RBmedia acquires Boldwood Books

RBmedia has acquired U.K. fiction publisher Boldwood Books and will add the company’s 2,000-title catalogue while keeping Boldwood operating as an independent business. The deal expands RBmedia’s international and foreign-language ambitions and closed July 31, 2026; terms were not disclosed.

Why it matters: - The acquisition gives RBmedia a bigger foothold in global fiction publishing and expands its reach across international and foreign-language markets. - Boldwood adds a deep catalogue and active release pipeline to RBmedia’s audiobook and digital distribution business. - The deal could help RBmedia deliver more titles to retail, library and consumer platforms worldwide.

What happened: - RBmedia announced it acquired Boldwood Books, an award-winning independent fiction publisher based in the United Kingdom. - The transaction closed on July 31, 2026. - Boldwood will become a publishing division of RBmedia and continue operating as an independent business. - RBmedia acquired Boldwood’s existing catalogue of 2,000 titles. - Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

The details: - Boldwood was founded in 2019. - The publisher was named Independent Publisher of the Year at the 2025 British Book Awards. - Boldwood also won Independent Publisher of the Year and Trade Publisher of the Year at the 2025 Independent Publishing Awards. - Boldwood publishes more than 500 new titles a year in eBook, audiobook and print formats. - The company focuses on mystery, thriller, romance, women’s fiction and historical fiction. - Boldwood has sold more than 50 million books worldwide. - RBmedia is the world’s largest audiobook publisher and has more than 100,000 titles. - RBmedia’s digital retail and library network reaches listeners through platforms including Audible, Spotify, Apple, Google Play, Audiobooks.com, Storytel, Libro.fm, OverDrive and Hoopla. - RBmedia is owned by H.I.G. Capital and Francisco Partners. - Michael Paull, CEO of RBmedia, said Boldwood brings expertise in multi-format publishing and added depth in key genres including mystery, thriller and romance. - Paull also said the acquisition strengthens RBmedia’s international and foreign-language publishing and its ability to serve authors and distribution partners. - Amanda Ridout, CEO and founder of Boldwood Books, said the combination pairs RBmedia’s resources and audiobook expertise with Boldwood’s publishing capabilities across formats. - Ridout said the agreement should increase author exposure in the U.S. while Boldwood remains an independent business.

Between the lines: - RBmedia is using the deal to broaden beyond audiobooks into a more integrated, multi-format publishing model. - Boldwood’s track record in commercial fiction gives RBmedia immediate scale in genres that travel well across audio, digital and print. - Keeping Boldwood independent suggests RBmedia wants the publisher’s brand and operating style to remain intact while it plugs into a larger distribution machine.

What's next: - RBmedia and Boldwood will operate as combined publishing businesses while Boldwood continues as a separate business unit. - RBmedia is likely to use Boldwood’s catalogue and new-release engine to support international growth and foreign-language expansion. - Both companies will continue serving authors, retailers, libraries and consumers through their existing channels.

The bottom line: - RBmedia bought a fast-growing fiction publisher to deepen its catalogue, strengthen global distribution and extend beyond audio into more formats.