At the end of the 1990s, the media reported about interests from several major publishers wanting to takeover Wilhelm Heyne, including Bertelsmann and the publishing group Holtzbrinck.
La sfârșitul anilor 1990, mass-media a raportat despre interesele câtorva edituri mari care doreai să preia Wilhelm Heyne, inclusiv Bertelsmann și grupul editorial Holtzbrinck.