Reed Elsevier has put its business-to-business publishing arm, Reed Business Information, up for sale.
A potential value of between £1 billion and £1.3 billion has been estimated for RBI, publisher of titles including Variety, New Scientist and Estates Gazette.
RBI reported revenues of 1.3 billion euros (£906 million) during 2007, and adjusted operating profits of 174 million euros (£131 million).
Reed Elsevier said that it had not yet begun talks with potential buyers and no timetable had been laid out for the disposal of RBI.
The announcement follows that sale of Emap B2B business in December (see Emap Sells B-2-B to GMG).
The business was sold to a joint venture between Guardian Media Group (GMG) and private equity firm Apax Partners for £1 billion.