Macmillan, the American publishing subsidiary of Germany’s von Holtzbrinck Group, said it was slashing 64 positions – or close to 4 percent of its US workforce.

The company includes imprints Henry Holt, St. Martin’s Press, Thomas Dunne, Picador and Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, all of which maintained fairly independent and decentralized operations until last fall when they were placed under the Macmillan name.

The imprints’ children’s publishing operations will be consolidated under Henry Holt executive Daniel Farley, who will continue to run the adult-consumer book publisher Holt.

The company also owns Scientific American magazine. Its publisher, Bruce Brandfon, denied reports that up to 10 staffers had been let go.

The company initiated a hiring freeze a week ago for any jobs over $50,000.