Penguin to Close Book on Dorling Kindersley

Dorling Kindersley, the imprint behind long-running book series about Star Wars and James Bond, is being groomed for a sale by its owner, Penguin Random House.

It publishes series both for children, with books from brands such as Lego, and adults, with the cookery writer Mary Berry among its catalogue of prominent authors.

Sources said that Penguin Random House was "exploring" a sale and that it could decide not to pursue a formal auction.