Russia's Alfa Group and VTB Capital are interested in purchasing Russia's largest advertising operator, News Outdoor, business daily Kommersant said on Tuesday, citing unknown sources.
Financial-industrial conglomerate Alfa Group and state-owned investment bank VTB Capital are among a pool of investors interested in the purchase, Kommersant said.
Alfa Group and VTB Capital declined to comment on the possible purchase, as did News Outdoor Group CEO Maxim Tkachyov.
Kommersant referred to News Corporation's financial report for the year ending June 2010, published on Saturday, which indicates the possible sale of News Outdoor and another subsidiary, Fox Mobile.
News Outdoor, a subsidiary of News Corporation owned by U.S. tycoon Rupert Murdoch, was recently fined for tax payment infringements in 2005 and 2006. The company is now faced with paying out 1.341 billion rubles ($45 million) in taxes and penalty fees.
MOSCOW, August 10 (RIA Novosti)
