Bertelsmann meets with PE groups

Bertelsmann’s chief financial officer Thomas Rabe met with at least two private equity companies to discuss the possible sale of its 50% stake in Sony BMG.

The Financial Times Deutschland said cited company sources as saying Bertelsmann is examining options, including a sale, for its book club and retail unit Direct Group and the Sony BMG stake. A spokesman for the company declined to comment on the matter, it said.

Chief executive Hartmut Ostrowski said when he took office in December that only those units which post organic growth will remain in the company.

But the newspaper cited company sources as saying Bertelsmann has not yet made a final decision on a possible sale and will first examine how high the proceeds from a sale may be.