It's nice to know that my cynicism has been rewarded, at least on a small scale. The Wall Street Journal's Jeff Trachtenberg reports that once Lagardere's takeover of TWBG finally closes at the end of March, the Book Group will change its name to Hachette Book Group USA.

Moreover, reports the book group's CEO David Young, Warner Books (as well any all other imprints bearing the name) will get new names -- likely within a year's time.

So aside from the fact that Warner Twelve will have to be called something else (like, um, Apostle Books? The Dirty Dozen?) the flagship imprint will have to find another moniker. Suggestions? Send 'em on and we'll run the most amusing ones later this week.