Marcel Dekker, Inc.

Company Description

• International publishing firm specializing in scientific, technical, and medical (STM) fields
• Roughly 250 books, 80 journals, and 25 encyclopedias published per year
• A premier publishing asset; excellent reputation for quality product and service

Investment Approach

• Company was experiencing growth and technology concerns in terms of its “printcentric” orientation and battled rising costs and declining margins
• Two Cat Trail partners gained majority interest in the business through an equity transaction, taking control of the management team as Chief Publishing Officer and Chief Operating Officer respectively
• Quickly transformed a traditional publisher into a technology leader and innovator in quality digital publishing

Cat Trail Value Add

• Invested over $7 Million of operating cash flow into sophisticated state-of-the-art content management, fulfillment, and dynamic web delivery systems and sites
• Developed a digital workflow for all product lines, expanded electronic product offerings, and reduced production costs
• Acquired select publishers and product lines; strategically realigned in-house programs to focus on fields of growth
• Revived a dwindling in-house encyclopedia program into a self-sustaining, digital, subscription based business
• Attracted industry veterans to help grow product line offerings and sales globally
• Cut costs by streamlining operations enabling a reduction in working capital requirements

The Cat Trail Edge

• Principals’ vision of a digital publishing future infused energy and vision to the company
• Reinforced reputation as a quality content and service oriented publisher
• Leveraged network of relationships at top academic, government, and industrial institutions for product expansion

Exit Strategy