White knight rescues Booktopia, opens door to new life

Booktopia will reopen after being rescued by a white knight business. (Diego Fedele/AAP PHOTOS)

Collapsed online bookseller Booktopia has been sold to the owner of electronics retailer digiDirect and will immediately resume trading.

The sale to Shant Kradjian was completed on Friday evening, Booktopia administator McGrathNicol announced on Monday morning.

“We are incredibly pleased to have completed the sale of the Booktopia business to the owner of digiDirect," McGrathNicol partner Keith Crawford said.

The 18 remaining Booktopia employees will be retained and another 100 will be hired, with the 165 staff let go when Booktopia entered voluntary administration last month being encouraged to rejoin the group.

The transaction also means the continuity of supply for Booktopia's trade customers and the purchaser is making special arrangements for customers with unredeemed gift cards, Mr Crawford said.

"Booktopia has been a key part of Australia’s publishing industry for 20 years, and transitioning the business to such a well-known Australian retailer is a great outcome for all stakeholders," he said.

Founded by Mr Kradjian in 2006, when he was 18, digiDirect has eight retail stores across Australia and an e-commerce business specialising in cameras and video equipment.

License this article

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store