Times Mirror Buys Text Firm

Times Mirror Co., significantly expanding its presence in the college textbook publishing field, has agreed to acquire Wm. C. Brown Co., Publishers, for an undisclosed amount.

Dubuque, Iowa-based WCB is one of the nation’s largest college textbook publishers, with 1991 revenue of $77.5 million, according to an industry estimate.

Times Mirror Chairman and Chief Executive Robert F. Erburu praised WCB’s reputation as a publisher and said the acquisition continues Times Mirror’s three-decade push into professional information and book publishing.

Times Mirror’s professional publishing group, which includes college textbooks, posted revenue of $851.1 million last year.

The acquisition is expected to be completed by Oct. 31, Times Mirror said. The deal doesn’t include WCB’s interest in Kendall-Hunt Publishing or its real estate development operations.

Los Angeles-based Times Mirror is a diversified media company that publishes the Los Angeles Times, Newsday, the Baltimore Sun and Hartford Courant and has other newspaper, publishing and broadcast operations.