Chinese Businessman Says He Wants Stake in Times Co.
December 31, 2013
SHANGHAI — A wealthy Chinese businessman and philanthropist known for his zany public stunts said on Tuesday that he was leading a group of investors seeking to acquire a large or controlling stake in The New York Times Company.
Shares in the Times Company jumped 4 percent to a five-year high on Monday, shortly after the businessman, Chen Guangbiao, hinted at his plans in a speech in southern China.
The publisher of The New York Times said earlier this year that the family that controls the paper is not interested in selling it.
In a telephone interview on Tuesday, Mr. Chen said he had been thinking about “working with” The New York Times for years. Recently, he said, he had persuaded two businessmen, including a Hong Kong tycoon, help him raise about $1 billion to snap up a large portion of the company, now valued at about $2.4 billion based on its stock price.
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