Houghton Mifflin purchase gets regulatory nod

Boston-based publisher Houghton Mifflin Co. said today it has met a regulatory condition of its previously announced plan to acquire Harcourt Education and two other parts of Reed Elsevier PLC of London.

In July, Houghton Mifflin disclosed its intention to buy those entities for $4 billion as it looked to strengthen and diversify its educational publishing business.

Today Houghton Mifflin said it has been notified of the termination of the acquisitions waiting period required by the federal Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act.

No divestitures or other remedies were required in connection with the termination of the waiting period, said Houghton Mifflin, which added that the transaction is expected to close in mid December.

Best known as the publisher of the American Heritage Dictionary and the US editions of "The Lords of the Rings" books, Houghton Mifflin traces its local roots to a Boston publishing house that started in 1832.
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)