Random House to Acquire Prima Communications

Posted on March 27, 2001

Prima Communications, Inc., a publisher of video and computer game strategy guides, has agreed to be acquired by publisher Random House, Inc. Prima also publishes several lifestyle and health book programs and technology and computer application titles for professionals and consumers. The purchase was announced by Peter Olson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Random House, Inc., and Ben Dominitz, Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer, Prima Communications, Inc. Prima's international operations in the United Kingdom, Germany, and France are also being acquired by Random House, Inc.

Prima Communications publishes some 300 new books annually in trade paperback and hardcover formats and maintains an active backlist of 700 titles. The purchase is expected to be finalized within the next few weeks. Under Random House, Prima will retain its name and the distinct editorial identities of its publishing programs, with its staff continuing to be based in Sacramento and Indianapolis, working closely with Random House, Inc. counterparts in New York. Ben Dominitz will become Chairman Emeritus of Prima Communications, and Senior Vice President, Special Projects, reporting to Richard Sarnoff, President, Random House New Media and Corporate Development Group.

Upon completion of the transaction, Prima Games, Prima's video and computer game guides publishing line, and Prima's technology publishing line, known as Prima Tech, will become new imprints of the Random House Information Group publishing division of Random House, Inc. The Random House Information Group consists of Fodor's Travel Publications, The Princeton Review, Living Language, Random House Puzzles & Games, and Random House Reference.

The Prima Lifestyle Group, comprised of trade paperbacks and hardcovers on alternative and natural health, such as The Natural Pharmacist series; parenting; education; business and finance; and current events, after the closing, will become a new publishing program of Random House, Inc.'s Crown Publishing Group division. Prima's titles in these areas will complement Crown's Three Rivers Press trade paperback imprint new title and backlist efforts, in addition to the publisher's Crown, Crown Business, Harmony, and Clarkson Potter hardcover lines.

Peter Olson observed "In welcoming Prima to Random House, Inc. we accomplish two of our long-term strategic objectives: to acquire market leaders in a fast-growing niche publishing area in which we are not represented as well as to enhance our frontlists and backlists with a quality imprint that is an excellent fit with our current publishing programs. We look forward to working with the Prima management and editorial, sales, and marketing team as colleagues to do some excellent publishing together."