KNV-bankruptcy: The book market shakes

a month Ago, filed for KNV, the largest intermediary on the German book market, of insolvency. This could play to the competitors of Amazon in the hands - and the diversity of the publishing industry damage.

By Lena Klimpel, MDR

You need a book that goes in the bookstore, ordered - and get it usually the next day. So the German book trade works so far. All thanks to the four bars ortimente the wholesalers who buy large numbers of books from publishers to bookstores to sell and a day supply.

"systemically important" system of delivery threatened

It is a slow-growing, well-organized System that is the envy of the German book market internationally. Until now. Because it is fragile, since the middle of February, a bad news reached the industry: Koch, Neff & Volckmar, short KNV, filed for bankruptcy.

KNV, headquartered in Stuttgart, with more than 1800 employees of the largest intermediaries on the German book market. With roughly 590,000-of-stock titles from over 5000 publishers KNV acts as an important link between publishers and bookstores.

in 2014, they had opened a new logistics centre in Erfurt in operation, with a few complications. Within the industry, it is assumed that KNV has taken on this enormous investment.

the insolvency of The logistics giant transported the actors on the book market, yet in bright excitement. Journals spoke of a "quake", as the family-run company is a "systemically important" Domino to tip over threatened.

On 14. February had filed KNV insolvency.

KNV-to be Broke "absolute disaster" for the book trade

"It was unsafe", says Irmgard Krahe, a bookseller in Essen. Your professional bookstore works with KNV as well as with the main competitors Libri. Shortly after the message on bankruptcy of KNV many title at the KNV were no longer available, because the publishers had to get their goods no more money.

you have short term thinking to order KNV, Krahe. She was but quickly came to the conclusion, in the orders. This is your contribution to the solvency guarantee of the vendor, because: "If KNV would go bankrupt, that would be an absolute disaster for the book trade." It was in the industry, also largely in agreement. "There is a great solidarity with KNV", notes Krahe.

industry-wide solidarity against publishing die

After a temporary stop of delivery, running the business at KNV for now.

This is not only because that book distributors fear the competition from Online retailers such as Amazon and therefore on the quick order system want to hold on to. The publisher diversity would be endangered by a KNV-Broke. Because the company is not only a bar range, but also publisher's distributors. That is, publishers that cooperate with KNV, would have to be found in the case of a Bankruptcy the whole of new sales channels for your books. Not easy, because none of the KNV-competitors could compensate for in a short time, the logistics volume of the company. And publishers that do not get rid of your books, can keep up in the competitive book market.

This is fuelling the fear of a publishing house to die. Even the KNV-competitor Libri preferred, therefore, his payments to small publishers. They wanted to get "the book market in all its diversity," said Libri.

Uncertain future for KNV and creditors

Also, if the insolvency administrator Tobias choice to trust in the search for investors and for a "sustainable redevelopment" of KNV advertises: Many publishers no longer pay all of your outstanding debts will be recovered. First of all, one hopes for a participation in the insolvency process. So far, no industry seats representative in the creditors Committee. "We would hope that this is changed", so the structure to tagesschau.de.

Independent publishing houses, behind which there is no financially strong companies, in particular, suffer from the uncertainty. Their programs are often not large - just like the financial resources. All the more important that KNV pays as an important customer on time.

The publisher Britta jürg's filled with concern. Your Berlin Aviva Verlag is dedicated to over 20 years, primarily on texts by authors. "If one of the largest customers is eliminated, then the consequences for the publishing work", stressed jürg's. They fear a reduction of the programme and the absence of trade fair presentations – especially for smaller publishers that might mean.

Fast delivery is "a great achievement"

jürg's contrary to the Frankfurt-based publisher Klaus Schöffling vehemently, the KNV holds also for essential, however, to the German press Agency at the same time, the "sacred cow" of the delivery on the night in question. A book store is finally "no pharmacy", Schöffling.

At the Leipzig book fair KNV want to clarify "personal, open-ended questions on the current Situation".

jürg's holds against it: "For me, the fast delivery to any place of the Republic in the coming day is a great achievement and one that I do not wish to renounce, whether as a publisher or as a reader -." Without it you would be Online retailers such as Amazon an even bigger weight and the book trade would be more of Monopoli. Also a bookseller Krahe hopes that KNV and the quick ordering system to be preserved, "otherwise, it sells the customer out of the book of acts."

Tomorrow starts the book fair in Leipzig. KNV will be on hand to present, and individual counseling for of the insolvency of the affected retailers and publishers offer, and "a clear Signal in the direction of the future," says sales Manager Jürgen Klapper. Whether this includes specific plans for the Survival of the company, it is expected that the industry with voltage.

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