Kraken Opus
Kraken Opus is a publisher of oversized, limited-edition luxury books about sports, public figures, culture, and major institutions.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Kraken Opus is a specialist luxury publishing company associated with exceptionally large, heavily illustrated, and limited-edition books. Its publishing model combines high-end editorial production with collectible design, premium materials, celebrity and sports licensing, and direct sales to affluent enthusiasts, institutions, and corporate buyers. The company has operated from locations including Guernsey in the Channel Islands, London, and the United Arab Emirates. The business was founded by Karl Fowler, a former Goldman Sachs investment banker who later managed his own financial-services company. Through that work he developed relationships with professional sports figures and other high-profile clients. Those relationships helped shape the concept behind Kraken Opus: books intended not merely to be read, but to function as large-scale commemorative objects and works of art for dedicated fans and collectors. Fowler reportedly invested personal funds together with capital from friends and acquaintances, with the initial concept focused particularly on premium sports publications. The first major title was the Manchester United Opus, released in 2006. It weighed approximately 97 pounds, or 44 kilograms, and was produced in a planned edition of 10,000 copies. Depending on specification, copies were offered at prices of roughly £3,000 to £4,500. The title established the company's characteristic format: unusually large physical dimensions, extensive photography and editorial content, a restricted production run, and pricing far above that of conventional illustrated books. Kraken Opus subsequently broadened its subjects beyond football. Its catalogue included books connected with Formula 1, Ferrari, Arsenal, cricket, fashion, music, royalty, architecture, wine, and major cultural or religious events. The company also developed projects connected with the hajj and with prominent buildings such as Burj Khalifa, formerly known as Burj Dubai. Some projects were designed as bespoke or institutional commissions rather than ordinary retail books. A reported 15-foot edition of the Burj Dubai Opus, for example, was commissioned for display in the building's lobby. The brand's commercial proposition rested on scarcity and spectacle. Some editions were sold in relatively substantial limited runs, while others were restricted to only a few hundred or even one hundred copies. Pricing ranged from several thousand pounds or dollars to much higher figures for special editions and commissions. The books were marketed as collectible cultural artifacts, often with premium packaging, signed or otherwise specially specified copies, and associations with the subject's brand or estate. This approach positioned Kraken Opus between publishing, luxury goods, memorabilia, and experiential marketing. The company encountered financial pressure during the global financial crisis. In December 2008 it opened a proprietary shop in Covent Garden, London. In June 2009 it entered voluntary administration after a United States-based backer did not provide an expected tranche of approximately $6 million in funding. Soon afterward, Karl Fowler and Paul Murphy undertook a management buyout following an offer to existing shareholders. The company also announced that a new Arab funder had been found and that its headquarters would move from London to the United Arab Emirates. That period also brought scrutiny over the delayed Celtic Opus. The book had been advertised at approximately £3,000 per copy, and publication was postponed after pre-orders and deposits had been taken. The planned print run was reduced, although the company said the project would proceed. The episode illustrates the operational and financial risks of producing highly complex, low-volume books that require substantial capital before publication. Among the company's best-known projects were titles devoted to Manchester United, Vivienne Westwood, Sachin Tendulkar, Ferrari, Formula 1, Arsenal, Prince, Michael Jackson, Bradley Wiggins, and Diego Maradona. A Manchester United Opus sold at auction for $1.5 million, with proceeds directed to Dubai Cares, and was reported as the most expensive sports book sold at the time. Kraken Opus also worked with Ticketmaster on the Michael Jackson Opus, described as the only book licensed by the Jackson estate immediately after Jackson's death. The company's later activity included a 2017 Sotheby's offering for a special diamante edition of The Official Ferrari Opus. Publicly available material does not establish the company's current ownership, operating scale, catalogue, or active trading status.
History
Kraken Opus emerged in the mid-2000s as a luxury publishing venture founded by Karl Fowler, a former Goldman Sachs investment banker. After leaving investment banking, Fowler ran his own financial-services business and developed relationships with sports personalities. Those contacts suggested a commercial opportunity for very high-end books aimed at fans and collectors rather than the mass market. Fowler supplied personal capital and raised additional money from acquaintances to establish the company. The first major publication, Manchester United Opus, appeared in 2006. Its extraordinary size and weight, together with a limited run and a price in the thousands of pounds, established the format that became associated with the brand. Kraken Opus treated the book as a luxury object: the subject matter supplied the emotional and licensing value, while scale, photography, materials, scarcity, and presentation justified the premium positioning. The catalogue expanded into multiple fields. Sports remained central, with projects related to Manchester United, Arsenal, Formula 1, Ferrari, cricket, Sachin Tendulkar, Bradley Wiggins, and Diego Maradona. Other publications focused on fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, musician Prince, Michael Jackson, wine, architecture, and the Burj Dubai/Burj Khalifa development. The company also worked on a publication concerning the Muslim hajj. Some projects were conventional limited editions by luxury-publishing standards, while others were bespoke commissions intended for display in buildings or sale to a small group of collectors. Kraken Opus developed its own retail presence in December 2008 by opening a shop in Covent Garden. The move reflected the company's attempt to control presentation and sales of products that were difficult to merchandise through ordinary bookstores. Its direct-to-consumer approach was complemented by partnerships and licensing arrangements. The Michael Jackson Opus, for example, was produced in partnership with Ticketmaster and connected with the Jackson estate. The company also used auctions and charity-linked sales to create publicity around particularly expensive editions. The business experienced a severe financial setback in June 2009. A United States backer failed to provide an anticipated $6 million tranche, and Kraken Opus entered voluntary administration. Existing shareholders were offered an opportunity connected with the restructuring, after which Fowler and Paul Murphy carried out a management buyout. The company announced that a new Arab funder had been secured and that its headquarters would move from London to the United Arab Emirates. These events marked a shift in the company's financial and geographic strategy. The restructuring period coincided with controversy over Celtic Opus. The book had been offered at about £3,000 per copy, but its scheduled publication was delayed after buyers had paid deposits and placed pre-orders. The print run was reduced, although the company maintained that publication would take place. The episode highlighted the dependence of luxury publishing projects on advance funding, specialist production, licensing, and reliable delivery schedules. Kraken Opus continued to attract attention through unusually valuable editions. A Manchester United Opus reportedly sold at auction for $1.5 million, with proceeds going to Dubai Cares. Wine Opus was described as a 100-copy edition with a price of AU$1.2 million per copy, while The Official Ferrari Opus was issued in several versions, including editions priced from several thousand dollars to tens of thousands. In 2017, a special diamante Ferrari edition was offered through Sotheby's with a $150,000 estimate. Public sources provide limited information about the company's activities after these projects. They do not reliably establish its present management, financial condition, active publishing schedule, or whether all of its historical operations remain active. Kraken Opus is therefore best documented as a distinctive luxury publisher whose historical identity was built around monumental limited-edition books and premium licensed content.
- 2017
Diamante Ferrari edition offered at Sotheby's
[1]A special edition of The Official Ferrari Opus was offered at auction with a six-figure dollar estimate.
- 2011
The Official Ferrari Opus published
[1]The Ferrari title was issued in multiple editions with prices varying substantially by specification.
- 2009
Voluntary administration and management buyout
[1]The company entered voluntary administration after a funding shortfall and was subsequently subject to a management buyout led by Karl Fowler and Paul Murphy.
- 2009
Headquarters relocation announced
[1]Following the restructuring, the company announced that its headquarters would move from London to the United Arab Emirates.
- 2008
Covent Garden retail shop opens
[1]Kraken Opus opened a proprietary shop in London's Covent Garden.
- 2006
Manchester United Opus launches
[1]The company's first major title was published as an exceptionally large, limited-edition book about Manchester United.
Products and positioning
Kraken Opus positions its publications as luxury collectible objects rather than ordinary books. Its differentiation comes from extreme physical scale, limited availability, premium production, high-profile licensing, bespoke commissions, and prices aimed at collectors, institutions, corporate purchasers, and affluent fans.
Sports publishing · 2006
Manchester United Opus
Kraken Opus's first major title, published in 2006, was an exceptionally heavy and oversized book devoted to Manchester United. Its planned 10,000-copy edition was priced in the range of £3,000 to £4,500 per copy. The title established the company's signature combination of premium production, limited availability, extensive visual content, and sports licensing.
Automotive publishing · 2011
The Official Ferrari Opus
The Official Ferrari Opus presented Ferrari-related content in several luxury specifications. Editions were reported at prices ranging from approximately $4,100 to $37,500, while a special diamante version was later offered through Sotheby's. The project illustrates the brand's use of prestigious automotive marques and differentiated collector editions.
Sports publishing
Sachin Tendulkar Opus
This limited-edition book focused on Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar. It was promoted as the most expensive cricket book published, placing a major sports biography within Kraken Opus's luxury collectible format.
Music publishing · 2009
Michael Jackson Opus
Produced in partnership with Ticketmaster, the Michael Jackson Opus was a licensed tribute publication associated with the Jackson estate. It was priced at £109 and was described as the only book licensed by the estate in the immediate period following Jackson's death.
Fashion publishing · 2008
Vivienne Westwood Opus
Published in 2008, the Vivienne Westwood Opus was a limited-edition fashion monograph. Its edition was reported at 900 copies, each priced at £1,400, reflecting the company's application of its luxury-book model to a designer brand.
Architectural and institutional publishing
Burj Dubai Opus
The Burj Dubai Opus was connected with the landmark development later known as Burj Khalifa. A reported 15-foot-tall version was commissioned for display in the building's lobby, demonstrating Kraken Opus's capacity for architectural commissions beyond conventional retail books.
Luxury lifestyle publishing
Wine Opus
Wine Opus was described as an extremely restricted edition of one hundred copies. Its reported price of AU$1.2 million per copy placed it among the most elaborate and expensive projects associated with the publisher.
Sports publishing · 2009
Celtic Opus
Celtic Opus was planned as a high-priced limited-edition football publication. Its release was delayed in 2009 after pre-orders and deposits had been collected, and the proposed print run was reduced during the company's financial restructuring.
Brand decisions
2009
Shift headquarters from London to the United Arab EmiratesStrategyBackground
The relocation was announced during the company's restructuring after a major expected funding commitment failed to materialize.
Action taken
Kraken Opus announced that its headquarters would move from London to the United Arab Emirates and that a new Arab funder had been identified.
Aftermath
The move accompanied a management buyout led by Karl Fowler and Paul Murphy. Public sources do not provide enough information to assess the long-term result.
2009
Reduce the planned Celtic Opus print runOtherBackground
The Celtic Opus publication was postponed after customers had placed pre-orders and paid deposits.
Action taken
The company reduced the planned print run while maintaining that publication would proceed.
Aftermath
The delay attracted criticism and illustrated the delivery and financing risks of complex, high-priced limited editions.
Recent events
- 2017
Special diamante Ferrari Opus edition offered through Sotheby's[1]
Other
A special diamante edition of The Official Ferrari Opus was offered at auction through Sotheby's with an estimate of $150,000.
- 2009
Kraken Opus enters voluntary administration after expected funding fails[1]
Bankruptcy
The company entered voluntary administration after a United States backer did not provide an expected $6 million tranche of funding.
- 2009
Management buyout and planned relocation to the United Arab Emirates[1]
M&A · Leadership change
Karl Fowler and Paul Murphy pursued a management buyout, announced new Arab funding, and said the company's headquarters would move from London to the United Arab Emirates.
- 2009
Celtic Opus publication delayed[1]
Other
Publication of the high-priced Celtic Opus was postponed after customer pre-orders and deposits had been received, and the planned print run was reduced.
- 2008
Kraken Opus opens a proprietary Covent Garden shop[1]
Other
The publisher opened a branded retail location in Covent Garden, London, expanding beyond distribution through third-party retailers.
Sources2 sources
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