Bertelsmann AG, Europe’s largest media company and parent of book-publisher Random House, on Wednesday reported a dip in full-year profit and said a decision on whether to take the company public could come as soon as May.
Bertelsmann which also owns European broadcaster RTL, magazine publisher Gruner + Jahr and half of Sony BMG said 2005 profit slipped to 1.04 billion euros ($1.26 billion) from 1.17 billion euros the year before. Sales for the year rose to 17.89 billion euros ($21.73 billion), compared with 17.01 billion euros in 2004.
