Leading North American B2B publisher Reed Business Information, a unit of Reed Elsevier (NYSE: RUK) Group Plc., may be exiting an Indian joint venture it formed in 2005 with specialty magazines publisher Infomedia18 Ltd, according to people familiar with the situation. Reed holds 51% in the JV—Reed Infomedia India Pvt. Ltd—which publishes three trade titles and one web portal. New Scientist, Logistics Management, JCK, a magazine on gems and jewellery, Twice, which focuses on consumer electronics, and franchisebusiness.in are the properties from the JV. When the JV was announced, an Infomedia release said the new venture will bring to India “over 100 titles from RBI US”.
 
Reed Infomedia country head Suresh Ramakrishnan said no decision has been taken to this effect so far. “There are indications that Reed is relooking at their entire strategy for India as well as the whole of Asia. And we all know that they are going through a lot of restructuring globally. But nothing is official at this point in time,” he said.

The publishing house’s staffers, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, say they have been clearly told over the past week that Reed is exiting the JV and their services are no longer required. Ramakrishnan denied this. “My communication with our staff was to inform them of the restructuring within Reed and to assure them that even if such a thing happens, their jobs are secure.” He said if any staff member has been asked to leave that was due to “performance issues”. Reed Infomedia employs 35 staffers, according to Ramakrishnan.

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So what happens to the titles if Reed pulls out of the JV? With the clear disclaimer that he was answering a hypothetical question, Ramakrishnan said Infomedia could license these titles. “Our titles are profitable operations and there is no reason to discontinue them.”

Infomedia18 is majority owned by TV18 India Ltd, which is part of the Network18 Group. Infomedia has a strategic partnership with Alibaba.com and TV18 has entered into an agreement with Forbes Media to publish an Indian edition of Forbes magazine. Infomedia’s consumer magazines include Chip, Overdrive, Better Interiors and T3.

We are awaiting comment from Infomedia MD Prakash Iyer.