Bertelsmann, the privately owned German media group, is considering the outright sale or closure of its online books and music operations - the second largest in the world - in the latest phase of its restructuring. The move signals a strategic U-turn following the resignation of Thomas Middelhoff as Bertelsmann chief executive following in a boardroom coup in July. Mr Middelhoff had hoped to transform the company into the global leader in book and music retailing. Bertelsmann's management board, however, has approved plans to scale back or withdraw entirely from e-commerce operations. The German group is understood to be in...