Hachette Book Group is reportedly in talks to acquire the Perseus Books Group.
The New York Times has the scoop: “Under terms of the proposed deal, Hachette would keep the Perseus publishing business, said one person briefed on the negotiations. But it has signed a binding agreement to sell its client services division, which provides back-end services like marketing and distribution, to Ingram Content Group, a distributor.”
The deal would give Hachette a leg up in its battle with Amazon. For the last month, the publisher has been stuck in negotiations with the book retailer. Amazon has stopped stocking popular Hachette titles, delaying shipments for weeks. Hachette author Stephen Colbert has launched an anti-Amazon campaign in response.