B'mann, Havas Back Off Deal
Herbert R. Lottman -- Publishers Weekly, 3/1/1999
After months of rumors about the likelihood of a merger of Germany's Bertelsmann and France's Havas professional publishing, the groups have decided that a closer association than already exists will not be possible because of their differing statutes and fiscal regimes, although European financial circles attribute the collapse of the talks to the failure of both sides to agree on who is the bigger fish. This will not prevent the development of further joint ventures such as the 50/50 acquisition of Spain's medical publisher Doyma, as well as the long-standing partnership in the big French book club and the recent launching of Bertelsmann's online bookselling site. The two sides are committed to regular discussions about new forms of cooperation.
