Lerner Publishing GP. acquires Book Co. imprints.

Lerner Publishing Group (LPG; Minneapolis, MN), an independent publisher of books for K-12 schools and libraries, has acquired The Millbrook Press and Twenty-First Century Books. No terms were given. The sale of the two imprints was made pursuant to the Millbrook Press, Inc.'s (Brookfield, CT) Chapter 11 reorganization plan. Milbrook was represented in the deal by The van Tulleken Co. (New York).

Lerner said it expects the two acquired imprints to produce 100 new titles in 2005, bringing LPG's annual total of new titles to 400. The acquired imprints will also bring about 900 backlist titles to LPG, bringing the total number of books in print to over 2400. LPG said plans call for further expansion of the lists.

LPG is comprised of Lerner Publications, Carolrhoda Books, First Avenue Editions, LernerSports, LernerClassroom and Kar-Ben Publishing.