British newspaper tycoon Robert Maxwell confirmed that...

British newspaper tycoon Robert Maxwell confirmed that he is trying to acquire the American information services firm Bell & Howell Co. His flagship, London-based Maxwell Communications Corp. PLC, announced it was seeking to buy more than 50% of Bell & Howell, a Skokie, Ill. firm that is, however, expected to fight the unsolicited takeover attempt. The bid marks Czechoslovak-born Maxwell’s fifth takeover move in a week and his second go at a major U.S. publishing firm since his $2-billion effort this past summer to acquire Orlando, Fla.-based Harcourt Brace Jovanovich failed. The bid’s value was not disclosed but the American company’s market value comes to about $575 million, based on Tuesday’s share price.