PW Daily reports that Rizzoli International has acquired the publishing assets of Hugh Lauter Levin Associates, the illustrated book publisher based in Westport, Conn and formerly distributed by Publishers Group West. Rizzoli will incorporate over 200 HLLA titles into its Rizzoli and Universe imprints, depending on the nature of the work, said publicity director Pam Sommers. Founder Hugh Lauter Levin will not be moving to Rizzoli, although Jim Muschett, who has held several positions at the company, will join Rizzoli to help manage and revise the acquired titles.
“After over 34 years in my own publishing house, I feel it is time to look for new challenges,” Levin said in the announcement. “My company is now part of a great publishing house with an outstanding tradition and the resources to help these books reach an even broader market.”