• by Ray Schultz , March 29, 2021

The deal, subject to regulatory approval, is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2021.  

The unit, known as HMH Books & Media, will be run by HarperCollins Publishers, a subsidiary of News Corp., and will bring over 7,000 titles to the HarperCollins backlist, including The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Curious George, The Polar Express, Animal Farm and The Little Prince, the company says.  

HMH Books & Media, which reported $191.7 million in net sales in calendar 2020, also has a formidable front list in the lifestyle and children’s sectors, including titles such as "Antoni in the Kitchen," "Instant Pot Miracle," "Wow in the World: The How and the Wow of the Human Body," "Little Blue Truck’s Valentine" and the "Click" series of middle-grade graphic novels. 

In addition, HarperCollins expects to realize $20 million per year in cost savings within two years, including manufacturing, distribution and other cost efficiencies. 

HMH also brings a production arm, \HMH Productions, to the table. It is involved in the animated series "Carmen Sandiego"on Netflix, programming that will be turned into a live-action feature film. 

“Combining HMH Books & Media’s strong catalog with HarperCollins’s global platform will allow for increased investment in HMH Books & Media’s trade programs, and we expect faster growth of the combined companies at a time of rapid growth in book consumption,” said Brian Murray, President-CEO of HarperCollins Publishers.  

Last week, News Corp announced it will buy Investor’s Business Dailyfrom O’Neil Capital Management for $275 million. News Corp also owns the New York Post.