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Angst over Oz A&R Borders bid

There's a certain amount of angst in publishing circles now that the ACCC has approved Angus & Robertson Whitcoulis' purchase of Borders' 22 Australian bookshops - for a reported $130m - to add to the 180 that A&R owns, reports the Age.

Stephanie Johnston, of Wakefield Press, says Borders stocks all Wakefield's titles at a national level and is concerned that "this buying pattern and broad range philosophy might change under the new ownership". But as she worries about greater discounting pushing up prices to maintain margins, she is also "looking forward to being paid earlier by accounting offices on the ground here in Australia".

Another publisher said despite initial concern when Borders first opened in Australia, it had been "fantastic".


The Age

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