US private investment group Providence and two Chinese companies, including property firm Wanda, are considering bids for the Infront Sports & Media agency, according to the Financial Times.
Infront’s parent company, private equity firm Bridgepoint, will accept bids until the end of this week, the newspaper said.
The report added that private equity group TPG had considered an offer, but ultimately decided against a bid for Infront, which is expected to be worth about €900m ($1.12bn).
The UK newspaper, citing sources, said that potential buyers had raised concerns that Infront’s media rights in relation to football’s Fifa World Cup could be affected if there is upheaval at the sport’s global governing body.
Asset management firm Lazard is advising Infront on the potential sale.
Infront last week signed a long-term agreement with pan-regional broadcaster Eurosport to consolidate its extensive portfolio of winter sports events through to the 2020-21 season. Under the deal, Eurosport will continue to offer live coverage of all International Ski Federation (FIS) Alpine, Cross-Country, Nordic Combined, Ski Jumping, Freestyle and Snowboard World Cup events, with a fresh five-year term running from 2016-17 onwards.