Today’s news that Reed Elsevier’s proposed auction of B2B division Reed Business Information has failed comes after months of behind-the-scenes negotiating, departures and optimistic predictions from the publisher. The next installment in the tale is likely to be the restructuring of RBI and—eventually—another invitation to anyone that might be interested to make a bid for it. Until then, here’s our history of the sale process in links going back to February. For even more history, check out our RBI channel.

—10 Dec: RBI Sale Cancelled; Reed Elsevier Still Wants Rid In Medium-Term
—19 Nov: RBI Sale Nearing End Game; Will Either Pick Winner Or Yank Sell-Off In Coming Weeks: Report
—17 Nov: Industry Moves: RBI CEO Van De Aast Quits, Sell-Off Remains Unresolved
—13 Nov: Earnings: Reed Stands Up To Economy, But RBI Sale ‘Cannot Be Certain’
—10 Nov Private Equity Funder Apollo ‘Pulls Out’ Of RBI Bid Consortium: Report

The rest is after the jump

—4 Nov Industry Moves: Reed Elsevier Picks Smith For CEO; £3.6M Possible Salary, RBI Sale Top Of To-Do Lis
—28 Oct @ FOBM: Ex-RBI CEO To Reed: Cut Asking Price, Break It Up
—27 Oct Reed Elsevier Plans Even Sweeter Sweetener For Struggling RBI Sell-Off: Report
—15 Oct: French Bank Calyon Walks Away From RBI Sale Syndicate
—10 Oct: RBI Sale At Risk Of Falling Through As Bidding Price Drops To $1.7 billion
—8 Oct: RBI Sell-off Stalls Again With $180 Million Finance Shortfall
—2 Oct: Reed’s RBI Sell-Off In The Balance? A Victim Of Credit Crunch?
—31 July: Earnings: RBI Performs Well, Divestment Attracts ‘Strong Interest’
—21 July: Round-Up: RBI Bids, Virgin iPlayer, HMV Kiosks
—4 July: M&A Watch: RBI Tempts With Loan, BSkyB Eyes Spain
—29 Feb: Interview: David Levin, CEO, UBM: Organizing For Audience; RBI Would Be ‘Backward Step’
—29 Feb: CMP No More: UBM Breaks Tech Media Firm Into Four Companies; UBM Not Interested in RBI Either
—21 Feb: Reed Business Information Divestment: Nothing Ruled In Or Out
—21 Feb: Earnings: Online Growth Helps Up Reed Elsevier; Some Ad Uncertainties
—21 Feb: Reed Business Information To be Sold Off; “Reducing Exposure To Cyclicality”

• RBI Sale Cancelled; Reed Elsevier Still Wants To Sell It In Medium-Term