Grupo Companhia das Letras, which is 70% owned by Penguin Random House, has bought Zahar, the publishing house founded in 1956 by editor Jorge Zahar that has specialized in books devoted to the human and social sciences, with a strong backlist of world classics, university textbooks and children's books.
Luiz Schwarcz, publisher of Grupo Companhia das Letras, called Jorge Zaha "a master when it came to publishing books that would stay the course, and that mastery has been emulated by the two generations of the family that followed him at the helm. I have had no greater honor in my life than being chosen to carry forth a legacy that changed the history of book publishing in Brazil. I truly hope I can do it justice."
Penguin Random House CEO Markus Dohle said: "Like all of our acquisitions, we embrace this responsibility with our commitment to preserve the editorial independence of the house and its editors, building upon Zahar's rich history toward the best future for the company. My congratulations to Luiz Schwarcz and the warmest welcome to the whole Zahar team. All of us at Penguin Random House are looking forward to working with our new colleagues on this exciting chapter."
Grupo Companhia das Letras now has 17 imprints: Companhia das Letras, Objetiva, Zahar, Alfaguara, Suma, Paralela, Penguin-Companhia, Companhia de Bolso, Portfolio-Penguin, Fontanar, Companhia de Mesa, Quadrinhos na Companhia, Seguinte, Companhia das Letrinhas, Pequena Zahar, Claro Enigma and Boa Companhia.