Bertelsmann 401(k) and pension plans

Bertelsmann, Inc., New York, NY. EIN 95-2949493. Annual reports 2009–2024. Also filed as Direct Brands Inc.; Fremantlemedia North America, Inc.; Bertelsmann Inc.

Bertelsmann, Inc. has 3 active retirement plans on file. The largest is the Bertelsmann 401(k) Savings Plan, with 14,913 participants and $2.0 billion in assets in 2024. Fidelity has been its recordkeeper since 2009.

Active plans: 3
Participants: 18,819
Plan assets: $2.1 billion
401(k) recordkeeper: Fidelity
Plans on file: 5
Industry: Information and media

All 5 plans

Active plans first

Bertelsmann 401(k) Savings Plan

401(k)Active

Active. The plan filed its annual report for the 2024 plan year.

Plan number: 004Employer EIN 95-2949493
Participants (2024): 14,913
Net assets (2024): $2.0 billion
Recordkeeper: Fidelity2009–2024
Plan administrator: Bertelsmann Defined Contribution Administration & Investment Committee
1745 Broadway, Corporate Benefits Dept, 20TH Floor
New York, NY 10019
(212) 782-1150As filed for 2024
In effect since: April 1, 1987

Plans merged into this one: The Random House, Inc. Incentive Investment Plan (2009).

Year by year, 2009 to 2024

Plan year	Participants	Net assets	Recordkeeper
2024	14,913	$2.0 billion	Fidelity
2023	14,571	$1.8 billion	Fidelity
2022	13,896	$1.5 billion	Fidelity
2021	14,166	$1.8 billion	Fidelity
2020	12,470	$1.6 billion	Fidelity
2019	12,020	$1.4 billion	Fidelity
2018	12,476	$1.2 billion	Fidelity
2017	13,736	$1.2 billion	Fidelity
2016	12,511	$1.0 billion	Fidelity
2015	12,321	$1.0 billion	Fidelity
2014	12,128	$1.0 billion	Fidelity
2013	11,176	$737 million	Fidelity
2012	8,662	$610 million	Fidelity
2011	8,814	$556 million	Fidelity
2010	8,700	$567 million	Fidelity
2009	6,693	$521 million	Fidelity

Bertelsmann Pension Account Plan

Pension (defined benefit), frozenActive

Active. The plan filed its annual report for the 2024 plan year.

Plan number: 003Employer EIN 95-2949493
Participants (2024): 2,980
Net assets (2024): $115 million
Plan administrator: Bertelsmann, Inc.
1745 Broadway, 20TH Floor
New York, NY 10019
(212) 782-1150As filed for 2024
In effect since: January 1, 1987

Plans merged into this one: Random House, Inc. Pension Account Plan (2009).

Earlier sponsor: Direct Brands Inc. (2011–2014).

Earlier plan names: Pension Plan of Direct Brands, Inc..

Year by year, 2009 to 2024

Plan year	Participants	Net assets	Recordkeeper
2024	2,980	$115 million	not listed
2023	3,044	$124 million	not listed
2022	3,111	$125 million	not listed
2021	3,196	$172 million	not listed
2020	3,289	$185 million	not listed
2019	4,105	$196 million	not listed
2018	4,200	$168 million	not listed
2017	4,275	$173 million	not listed
2016	4,577	$163 million	not listed
2015	4,713	$142 million	not listed
2014	1,292	$20.3 million	not listed
2013	5,627	$138 million	not listed
2012	1,476	$21.2 million	not listed
2011	1,561	$19.6 million	not listed
2010	6,843	$157 million	not listed
2009	3,723	$144 million	not listed

Fpi Retirement Plan

Profit-sharing planActive

Active. The plan filed its annual report for the 2024 plan year.

Plan number: 001Employer EIN 13-3621012
Participants (2024): 926
Net assets (2024): $12.2 million
Recordkeeper: Fidelity2017–2024
Plan administrator: Bertelsmann Defined Contribution Administration & Investment Committee
1745 Broadway, Attn Corporate Benefits 20 FL
New York, NY 10019
(212) 782-1150As filed for 2024
In effect since: January 1, 2015

Earlier sponsor: Fremantlemedia North America, Inc. (2015–2020).

Year by year, 2015 to 2024

Plan year	Participants	Net assets	Recordkeeper
2024	926	$12.2 million	Fidelity
2023	666	$10.5 million	Fidelity
2022	956	$7.9 million	Fidelity
2021	618	$8.1 million	Fidelity
2020	773	$5.9 million	Fidelity
2019	586	$3.9 million	Fidelity
2018	610	$2.0 million	Fidelity
2017	225	$990,901	Fidelity
2016	269	$177,423	not listed
2015	270	$135,000	not listed

Random House, Inc. Pension Account Plan

Pension (defined benefit), frozenMerged

Merged. In 2009 its assets moved to the Bertelsmann Pension Account Plan, sponsored by Bertelsmann, Inc. (EIN 95-2949493, plan 003). Accounts moved with them, so that plan is the one to contact.

Plan number: 005Employer EIN 95-2949493
Plan administrator: Bertelsmann, Inc.
1745 Broadway, 7TH Floor
New York, NY 10019
(212) 782-1150As filed for 2009
In effect since: December 31, 1959

The Random House, Inc. Incentive Investment Plan

401(k)Merged

Merged. In 2009 its assets moved to the Bertelsmann 401(k) Savings Plan, sponsored by Bertelsmann, Inc. (EIN 95-2949493, plan 004). Accounts moved with them, so that plan is the one to contact.

Plan number: 006Employer EIN 95-2949493
Recordkeeper: Fidelity2009
Plan administrator: Bertelsmann, Inc.
1745 Broadway, 7TH Floor
New York, NY 10019
(212) 782-1150As filed for 2009
In effect since: July 1, 1983

Plans that moved to another employer

Plan	Now sponsored by	Since
The Columbia House Pension Plan	Direct Brands Inc.	2011

These plans once filed under Bertelsmann's tax ID and are now filed by another employer, usually after a sale or spin-off. Accounts moved with them.

If you had money in one of these plans

Call Fidelity (fidelity.com), which runs the Bertelsmann 401(k) Savings Plan. With your Social Security number and the plan name, it can tell you whether you still have a balance and, if not, where it went.
Or call the plan administrator listed on the plan below ((212) 782-1150). That number was filed for 2024; ask for the benefits or retirement plan office.
If your plan was merged, your account moved with it. Follow the link on the plan to the plan it went into, and contact that one.
Still stuck? The Department of Labor's benefits advisers help for free: askebsa.dol.gov or 1-866-444-3272. Never pay anyone to find your own money.

What these numbers are

They come from the Form 5500 annual reports each plan files with the Department of Labor, as the plan filed them. A plan year is usually a calendar year.
Participants counts everyone in the plan at year end: current employees, former employees who still have a balance or a pension coming, and retirees or beneficiaries being paid.
The recordkeeper is the service provider whose Schedule C entry says it keeps the plan's records. Small plans do not file Schedule C, so some plans show none.
We cannot see anyone's account. Only the plan or its recordkeeper can tell you your balance.

Sources: U.S. Department of Labor, Form 5500 datasets and PBGC trusteed plans. How we read them.

All 5 plans

Bertelsmann 401(k) Savings Plan

Bertelsmann Pension Account Plan

Fpi Retirement Plan

Random House, Inc. Pension Account Plan

The Random House, Inc. Incentive Investment Plan

Plans that moved to another employer

If you had money in one of these plans

What these numbers are

Other information and media employers in NY