De Haske-Hal Leonard Acquires Beriato
Two Leading Band Music Publishers Combine Strengths; Beriato Founders to Join De Haske Management Team
MILWAUKEE - A subsidiary of Hal Leonard Corporation, Holland-based De Haske, Europe's largest publisher and distributor of concert band music, instrumental publications and method books, has acquired Belgian band publisher Beriato. De Haske Managing Director Garmt van der Veen and Beriato Co-Directors Juri Briat and Ben Haemhouts negotiated the deal, which they expect to close in the coming weeks. Terms were not disclosed.
Briat and Haemhouts founded Beriato in 1996. Since then, their company has grown to become a prominent independent music publisher dedicated to publishing high-quality works for concert band, fanfare band and brass band, not only from established composers, but also from talented young composers destined for great careers. Beriato also offers chamber music and educational publications under its Kameleon Edition imprint.
Both Beriato founders will retain prominent positions following the acquisition. Briat will become the general manager of the Belgian branch, located in Kontich, which will immediately begin distributing De Haske and Hal Leonard instrumental music.
Haemhouts will head up publishing for De Haske and Beriato, responsible for the overall creative activities of both companies. Briat and Haemhouts together will be responsible for Beriato's artistic direction; the company will continue as an independent label within the greater organization.
Van der Veen comments, "We have much respect for Beriato and its development over the past few years. Its direction is perfectly aligned with the goals of De Haske-Hal Leonard. This newfound synergy promises fresh and exciting ideas for the future."
Haemhouts states, "For decades, De Haske has been a benchmark for the whole band movement. It has always been important for us at Beriato to follow our own objectives. This has allowed us to maintain our identity, and survive as the proverbial 'small fish in the big pond,' alongside rapidly expanding publishers such as De Haske. Right now, both companies are in a unique position to strengthen and support each other without sacrificing our own identities and objectives."
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