Storytel AB, Northern Europe’s leading audiobook and e-book streaming service, is acquiring a 70 percent majority interest in Iceland’s leading book publishing house Forlagið.
The majority seller, Mál og menning Literary Society, will remain a 30 percent minority owner in Forlagið, which will operate independently from Storytel Iceland’s streaming operations on the local market.
Since previously, Storytel’s publishing business area in the Nordics includes the renowned publishing houses Norstedts Förlagsgrupp (SWE), People’s Press (DEN) and Gummerus Publishers (FIN).
Who is Forlagið
Forlagið was founded in 2007 by Jóhann Páll Valdimarsson, Egill Örn Jóhannsson and Mál og menning, the last of which has been the controlling owner since 2017.
Forlagið has become Iceland’s largest publisher and a dynamic and independent force and voice for Icelandic literature and high quality authorships.
Today, Forlagið’s publishing operations represent a total yearly production of approximately 150 domestic and translated top titles and a large number of influential and popular Icelandic authors such as Halldór Laxness, Arnaldur Indriðason, Guðrún Helgadóttir, Sjón and Steinunn Sigurðardóttir.
