Baker & Taylor is the world's largest distributor of books and entertainment, in business for over 180 years. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina

Charlotte, North Carolina

Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...

, and privately owned, in 2006 it had $2.2 billion in sales, employed 3,750 and was # 181 on Forbes list of privately owned companies. Baker & Taylor's core business distributes media - books, calendars, music and DVDs to libraries throughout the world. Its retail unit distributes approximately 1 million book titles and 311,000 CDs and DVDs to retail booksellers - both physical stores and internet operations. Castle Harlan Partners is the majority owner of Baker & Taylor, having acquired it from the investment firm Willis Stein & Partners

Willis Stein & Partners

Willis Stein & Partners is a private equity firm focused on leveraged buyout transactions for middle-market companies.The firm's most notable investments have included Ziff Davis, Roundy's, Jays Foods, Lincoln Snacks Company and Petersen Publishing Company .The firm is headquartered in Chicago and...

. In 1994, it had been acquired by the Follett Corporation

Follett Corporation

Follett Corporation is a River Grove, Illinois-based company that provides a variety of educational products to schools, colleges, and public libraries through its subsidiaries.-History:...

 of River Grove, Ill.. from the then majority holder, the Carlyle Group

Carlyle Group

The Carlyle Group is an American-based global asset management firm, specializing in private equity, based in Washington, D.C. The Carlyle Group operates in four business areas: corporate private equity, real assets, market strategies and fund-of-funds, through its AlpInvest subsidiary...

, which sold its interest to concentrate on the defense industry. Baker & Taylor paid $3 million to the US government in 1999 to settle a federal lawsuit claiming that it had overcharged the federal government, and state and local libraries using federal funds, after it had been sold by its then parent W. R. Grace and Company

W. R. Grace and Company

W. R. Grace and Company is a Columbia, Maryland, United States based chemical conglomerate.The company has two main divisions, Davison Chemicals and Performance Chemicals. The Davison unit makes chemical catalysts, refining catalysts, and silica-based products that let other companies make...

 in March, 1992. Jack Eugster is chairman and chief executive officer, having succeeded Richard Willis on January 4, 2008.

Publishing

Baker & Taylor publishes books under the Thunder Bay Press

Thunder Bay Press

Thunder Bay Press is a publisher known for its Then and Now books. It publishes nonfiction promotional books, often containing specially commissioned photography. Subjects include cooking, sports, history, transportation and nature. It is owned by Baker & Taylor Publishing Group....

, Silver Dolphin Books, and Portable Press imprints.