On August 1st, HarperCollins’ parent company News Corp completed its acquisition of Harlequin Enterprises for C$455 million in cash from Torstar Corporation. Harlequin will now operate as a part of HarperCollins.

Harlequin will be a standalone subsidiary of HarperCollins, and it will continue to maintain its headquarters and offices in Toronto.

This deal will expand HarperCollins’ global publishing reach since Harlequin has offices in 17 countries and releases books in 33 languages. Harlequin’s expertise in digital publishing will also be added to the HarperCollins platform.

Robert Thomson, chief executive of News Corp, said, “We are pleased to formally welcome Harlequin and its employees to the new News. The addition of such an iconic brand with a loyal audience, robust global expertise and digital depth is a proud and purposeful moment for our company. Onward to the next chapter.”

What does this deal mean for Harlequin and the fans of its popular romance novels?

Read more about the acquisition on Publishers Weekly.