Amazon eyes European rival

Online book and record retailer Amazon is in talks to buy its European rival BOL from Germany’s biggest media company.

Bertelsmann is in contact with rivals including Amazon.com, said spokesman Gerd Koslowsk but added that talks with several companies about a sale of the BOL subsidiary were only just beginning.

Amazon.com spokeswoman Patty Smith declined to comment on “rumours and speculation,” referring to reports that the Seattle-based retailer was considering a deal to strengthen its hold in Europe.

BOL, which sells books, CDs and software over the Internet in five European countries as well as China, is part of Bertelsmann’s unprofitable DirectGroup retailing and e-commerce division.