Ripplewood eyes Bertelsmann’s US book clubs

US private equity firm Ripplewood Holdings is understood to be considering a bid for the North American book club business of German publishing group Bertelsmann AG. The deal is expected to have a price tag of approximately €250m (US$390m).

Bertelsmann wants to complete the sale of the Bookspan book club and Columbia House‘s DVD club by July. There are a number of buyers queuing up to acquire the two units, which together are reported to have generated revenues of US$1.3bn in 2007.

Ripplewood has substantial experience in the publishing sector having led the US$1.6bn buyout of Reader’s Digest Association in 2006.