At last, we'll finally get to see whether Dennis Publishing president Steve Colvin's long-running campaign to slap the Maxim brand on everything from hair dye and steakhouses to the Vegas desert itself will translate into big bucks.

The New York Post reported in late September that Dennis had quietly retained media investment firm Allen & Co. to broker a sale, and that possible buyers included Girls Gone Wild meatstick Joe Francis and former Wenner exec Kent Brownridge, among others. At the time, sources told Radar Dennis had been involved in hush-hush negotiations with one eager buyer—the rumored asking price was $250 million—but that the deal fell through. Today, Dennis is making its search for a buyer public.

"Dennis Publishing, Inc. today announced that it has retained media investment firm Allen & Company as its exclusive financial advisor to explore various strategic alternatives available to the Company including a possible sale of the Company," reads a draft of the press release obtained by Radar and scheduled to go wide imminently.

Asked to elaborate, a Dennis spokesperson declined, saying the release speaks for itself. According to insiders, although the hope is that Blender, Stuff, and Maxim will be sold as a bundle, the company is open to selling them off separately. News digest The Week, however, will not be part of any deal, because, says a Dennis source, "It's the only one that's still close to Felix's heart."

Dennis Publishing, Inc. today announced that it has retained media investment firm Allen & Company as its exclusive financial advisor to explore various strategic alternatives available to the Company including a possible sale of the Company. Through its three successful magazine brands, Maxim, Blender, and Stuff, Dennis Publishing, Inc. dominates the coveted 18 to 34 year old male audience. This includes successful brand extensions ranging from more than 25 international editions, worldwide websites, worldwide mobile telephone content delivery to branded network and cable television programs, a satellite radio channel and various successful branded product line extensions.

Dennis Publishing, Inc. is a media company that publishes one of the most successful modern men's lifestyle magazines in America—Maxim (2.5 million rate base)—along with Stuff (1.3 million rate base) and general interest music magazine Blender (800,000 rate base). Maxim, Stuff, and Blender are registered trademarks of Felix Dennis. Maxim Radio is broadcast on Sirius Satellite Radio on channel 108.

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