A leader in lifestyle and guidebook publishing in Germany, Hamburg’s Gräfe und Unzer is being acquired by Verlagsgruppe HarperCollins.

By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson

More Than Doubling HarperCollins in Germany

In its announcement from Hamburg, Verlagsgruppe HarperCollins Deutschland has announced today (November25) that it has committed to buy the German guidebook and travel literature publisher Gräfe und Unzer from Ganske Verlagsgruppe, which has held the company since 1990.

Gräfe und Unzer, often referred to as GU, reportedly has more than 300 years of publishing history since its creation in 1722 and is ranked as the market-leading guidebook publisher in the German market. Its acquisition is expected to more-than double the size of HarperCollins in Germany. Brands associated with Gräfe und Unzer include Holiday, G|U, BLV Jagdleben, Polyglot, Merian, Adac/Pincamp, and Unum.

The move also brings ISP Isar Sales Partner under the Verlagsgruppe HarperCollins brand.

Expansion areas for HarperCollins in Germany will be focused in cooking; lifestyle; healthy eating, partnership and family; health and wellness; gardening; pets; nature; and travel.

Brian Murray, president and CEO of HarperCollins, is quoted on the news of the deal, saying, “Germany is one of our strongest markets in the international portfolio and one where we see  tremendous growth opportunities.

“This acquisition will allow us to increase our market share and  position us for continued growth in the market.”

And Verlagsgruppe HarperCollins  managing director Juergen Welte says, “Gräfe und Unzer has an impressive publishing history, exceptional authors, books, and brands, and has become a great brand in its own right, trusted by generations of readers.

“We’re  proud to welcome Gräfe und Unzer under the umbrella of the HarperCollins publishing group, and we and look forward to shaping the future of the publishing house together.”

Gräfe und Unzer is expected to remain based in Munich, operated by Verlagsgruppe HarperCollins Deutschland.

In Germany, HarperCollins says it publishes some 300 books, with more than 1,000 series novels annually under the imprints HarperCollins, Nagel und Kimche, Ecco, Reverie, HarperAudio, Schneiderbuch, Dragonfly, and Cora. 

With its base in Hamburg, the company currently employs more than 60 people.

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More from Publishing Perspectives on HarperCollins is here, more on mergers and acquisitions in international publishing is here, and more on the German market is here.