Denmark's largest trade publisher, Gyldendal, just got bigger, with the acquisition of the general publishing activities of Munksgaard from its U.K. owner Blackwell Science. The logos changing hands include Host &Sons, Hans Reitzel, together with the dictionary and educational lists of flagship imprint Munksgaard. At the same time, Munksgaard imprint Rosinante was purchased jointly by Gyldendal and Rosinante's publisher, Merete Ries.

Gyldendal's managing director, Kurt Fromberg, characterized the acquisitions as a "perfect fit" and cited a Danish journal's judgment that with the takeover the 229-year-old publisher "has consolidated its leadership well into the next millennium."

On its side, Munksgaard remains Blackwell's Danish scientific arm, a leader in sci-tech journals, textbooks and electronic publishing. Fromberg promises that the trade imprints taken over from Munksgaard will continue to be operated with their present staffs, and Erik Lindgren will carry on as managing director of Host and Reitzel. Fromberg expects a rise in Gyldendal market share from the present 20%- 25% range to 25%-30%.