Transfer Partners advised GANSKE VERLAGSGRUPPE on the sale of GRÄFE UND UNZER Verlag (GU) GmbH to the publishing group HarperCollins Deutschland GmbH, a subsidiary of HarperCollins Publishers (‘HarperCollins’). 
HarperCollins Germany today announced it has agreed to acquire German guidebook publisher GRÄFE UND UNZER (GU). The acquisition more than doubles the size of HarperCollins’s business in Germany.

GU—part of the Ganske publishing group in Hamburg since 1990—has more than 300 years of publishing history and is the market-leading guidebook publisher in Germany with successful bestselling authors, a strong content pool, and a high level of brand awareness. With GRÄFE UND UNZER Verlag, ISP Isar Sales Partner is also moving under the umbrella of the HarperCollins Germany.

The addition of GU will expand HarperCollins Germany’s portfolio to include cooking and enjoyment, healthy eating, life advice, partnership and family, health, gardening, pets, nature, and travel.

“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 are proud to welcome GRÄFE UND UNZER under the umbrella of the HarperCollins publishing group and look forward to shaping the future of the publishing house together,” said Juergen Welte, Managing Director, HarperCollins Germany.

“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,” said Brian Murray, President and CEO, HarperCollins Publishers.

GU will continue to be based in Munich and operate under the umbrella of HarperCollins Germany. The transaction is subject to approval by the antitrust authorities.

About HarperCollins Publishers

HarperCollins Publishers, one of the largest English-language publishers in the world, is a subsidiary of News Corp. Headquartered in New York, HarperCollins has publishing groups around the world in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and India. HarperCollins is a broad-based publisher with strengths in literary and commercial fiction, business books, children's books, cookbooks, narrative nonfiction, mystery, romance, reference, pop culture, design, health, wellness, and religious and spiritual books. With nearly 200 years of history, HarperCollins has published some of the world's foremost authors, including winners of the Nobel Prize, the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, the Newbery Medal, and the Caldecott Medal. HarperCollins is consistently at the forefront of innovation, using digital technology to create unique reading experiences and expand the reach of its authors.

You can visit HarperCollins Publishers online at: harpercollins.com

About HarperCollins Germany

HarperCollins Germany publishes around 300 books and 400 press products with over 1,000 series novels every year under their imprints HarperCollins, Nagel und Kimche, Ecco, reverie, HarperAudio, Schneiderbuch, Dragonfly and Cora. Our authors include Karin Slaughter, Don Winslow, Alice Walker, Joyce Carol Oates, Ann Petry, Naomi Wood, Wilfried Meichtry, Susanna Tamaro, Kati Naumann, Susanne Oswald, Tanja Janz, Julia Quinn, Tobias Goldfarb, Britta Sabbag, Catherine Belton and bell hooks. HarperCollins Germany is based in Hamburg and currently employs over 60 people. It is a subsidiary of HarperCollins Publishers, New York.

You can visit HarperCollins Germany online at: harpercollins.de

About Gräfe und Unzer

GRÄFE UND UNZER VERLAG (est. 1722) is one of the leading publishers of guidebooks and travel books in Europe with its guidebook program areas GU Cooking & Pampering, GU Body, Mind & Soul, Partnership & Family, GU Pets, House & Garden, Gräfe und Unzer, BLV, TEUBNER, HALLWAG and unum, in the non-fiction area with the Gräfe und Unzer Edition as well as with the travel literature brands ADAC, HOLIDAY, MERIAN and POLYGLOTT.

You can visit Gräfe und Unzer online at: graefe-und-unzer.de

Transfer Partners' mandate comprised the full support of the sales process including due diligence management as well as the support of the final negotiations up to the successful signing.