Christian Retailing

Two leading Catholic publishers merge Print Email
Written by Eric Tiansay   
Monday, 08 June 2009 02:15 PM America/New_York
Two leading Catholic publishers have announced a merger. Our Sunday Visitor has acquired Harcourt Religion Publishers from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

"We are thrilled to welcome Harcourt Religion Publishers into ... (our) family," said Greg Erlandson, president and publisher of Our Sunday Visitor. "They have long stood out for their curricula and forward-looking support tools. The joining of our product lines not only reinforces both missions, but it leverages similar corporate cultures that value innovation, hybrid solutions and sharing what the church teaches and why to Catholics of all ages."

Harcourt Religion President Diane Lampitt added: "Our Sunday Visitor's people, products and mission complement our vision and commitment to provide solid, age-appropriate catechesis. Together, we'll be able to respond to parish and school needs like never before-with exceptional speed, creativity, and new formats."

Our Sunday Visitor will retain Harcourt Religion's existing management team, support staff, field representatives and product line. Harcourt Religion's customers will continue to work through their established local sales representatives and gain immediate access to a wider array of products and programs, company officials said. Over the next several months, customers will see expanded service support, expedited fulfillment services, and new hybrid products and services.