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 BERLIN (AP) - 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.
The Guetersloh, Germany-based company said the dip was the result of a lack of special items that lifted its results the year before, and said it was optimistic about posting similar, if not better, results through 2006.
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