German media conglomerate Bertelsmann AG and Reader's Digest Association Inc., Pleasantville, NY, have held preliminary discussions about combining some of their operations, including their database marketing functions and book clubs, according to published reports. Representatives from both companies declined to comment.
Executives from both companies have been meeting with consulting firm McKinsey & Co. The companies could also be considering the combination of their magazine operations.
Reader's Digest has been seeking to leverage its brand into categories beyond books and magazines.
