The AP has obtained a letter to Direct Group employees from Bertelsmann chief executive Hartmut Ostrowksi that admits “we have decided to initiate the sale process for our [book and music club] businesses” in the UK, Australia and New Zealand, plus the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and Flanders (Flemish-language in Belgium), Poland, Russia, Slovakia and Ukraine. At least for now the company intends to retain Direct Group units in German and French-speaking countries, plus Spain, Italy, and Portugal. (Note that the French media recently reported the hiring of Morgan Stanley to elicit offers for the Direct Group division.) AP
