Wiley buys Fernhurst Books; co. buys out Indian partner

Business Publisher, March 1, 2006

John Wiley & Sons Ltd. (Chichester, UK), a unit of John Wiley & Sons (Hoboken, NJ) has completed the purchase of the publishing assets of Fernhurst Books (Arundel, UK), a publisher of books, manuals, and guides for sailing, boating and other water-based activities. No terms were given.

The purchase includes over 100 titles that cover a range of nautical pastimes, including cruising, racing, motorboating, yacht and dinghy racing and surfing. Titles include "GPS Navigation," and "Rules in Practice," among others, as well as Fernhurst's 'Companion' series of guides ("Radar Companion," "VHF Companion," etc.).

In related news, Wiley has compleed the acquisition of the outstanding shares of Wiley Dreamtech (India) Private Ltd. (Bangalore) from Infocom Books India Private Ltd. The company is being remaned Wiley India Private and is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Wiley Publishing Inc. (Singapore). Wiley acquired a majority interest in Dreamtech in 2001 as part of its acquisition of Hungry Minds Inc. (New York), the publisher of technology, consumer and how-to books, including such brands as 'For Dummies," "Frommer's" and "Cliff-Notes." Dreamtech currently produces an indigenous publishing program, Wiley technology titles and editions of Wiley Higher Education textbooks.