Bertelsmann buys Brockhaus and cuts jobs
The long-established Brockhaus encyclopedia brand will be preserved. Bertelsmann subsidiary Wissenmedia GmbH will take over the publishing house effective February 1, 2009. The deal includes all trademark rights, content, and assets.
The traditional encyclopedia brand Brockhaus will be retained. The Bertelsmann subsidiary Wissenmedia GmbH will take over the publishing house on February 1, 2009. The package includes all brand rights, content and inventory. However, the German Cartel Office still has to approve the purchase. The previous owner, the Mannheim-based Bibliographisches Institut, intends to concentrate on the "successful business areas of the Duden brand and the calendar business" in future. This is a response to "the developments of recent years and a reaction to the sharp decline in the dictionary business in the book trade". A number of jobs will fall victim to these consequences: the Leipzig online editorial team will be dissolved and restructuring will also be necessary in Mannheim, Bertelsmann announced on Wednesday.
The online editorial team had only been set up in April of this year to create a free knowledge portal. A total of 60 employees are affected by the closure. According to the industry service Kress.de, the management and works council will negotiate how many jobs the restructuring in Mannheim will cost in the coming weeks.
The online editorial team had only been set up in April of this year to create a free knowledge portal. A total of 60 employees are affected by the closure. According to the industry service Kress.de, the management and works council will negotiate how many jobs the restructuring in Mannheim will cost in the coming weeks.
