Peter Hervey buys the Finnish company Sanoma share in a number of Russian publications included in the ID Sanoma Independent Media. This Forbes told two sources in the media market. "Hervey - the main contender, and the deal could be closed in the near future", - says one of them.

The composition of Sanoma Independent Media consists of the newspaper "Vedomosti" and The Moscow Times, and a number of magazines - Cosmopolitan, Esquire, Harper's Bazaar, Men's Health, National Geographic and Grazia. Finnish media group Sanoma announced the impending sale of its Russian mediaktivov the autumn of 2013. According to the newspaper "Vedomosti», Sanoma Independent Media's revenue in 2013 decreased by 5% to 5.2 billion rubles, EBITDA -. On the same 5% to 1.1 billion rubles. Sanoma's revenue in Russia, Central and Eastern Europe declined by 13% in 2013 - from € 199.5 million to € 173.5 Mill.

Hervey himself in the Forbes comments, he said: "No no deal, and we are very far from signing it."

Finnish Sanoma in several media owned shares, together with other media companies. Thus, in the newspaper "Vedomosti" Sanoma owns only a third of shares, even at 33% is owned by Dow Jones (founder of the American newspaper The Walll Street Journal) and FT Group (founder brTang Financial Times).

According to Forbes source, then Hervey may buy Dow Jones bags and FT Group.

Forbes Sources also claim that Hervey plans for 2015 SIM sell assets, including the newspaper "Vedomosti", holding "Gazprom-Media" or the structures of Yuri Kovalchuk businessman.

Hervey himself as a foreigner can not own more than 20% SIM in accordance with the amendments to the media law, which will come into force in 2016.

The head of "Gazprom-Media" Mikhail Lesin said that his holding assets Sanoma Independent Media «not interested under any circumstances." He added that he did not receive proposals on SIM media buying. In the "National Media Group", bringing together media assets Yuri Kovalchuk and Alexei Mordashov, declined to comment.

Chief editor of "Vedomosti" Tatiana Lisova did not comment on the sale of the newspaper. SIM CEO Jean-Emmanuel de Witt told Forbes, that no Sanoma, nor is it as her representative in Russia "does not comment on rumors." Dow Jones and FT representatives declined to comment.

One source for mediaryke believes that Peter Hervey afterwards it would be difficult to sell the publications Sanoma Independent Media. "Hervey, of course, will look for where to hand over these assets, but it is marginal and very profitable business, there is a risk that no one will want it to outbid" - he added.

The transaction amount is still unknown. Earlier edition RBC estimates the cost of Sanoma Independent Media assets in the range of 2.8 to 5.3 billion rubles. Advising Citibank deal. At the request Citibank Forbes did not respond.
Similarly Hervey acted in the transaction for buying a controlling stake in News Outdoor (Now Russ Outdoor). In 2013, his company NOOH Investments Cooperatief with "VTB Capital" and the structures of Alfa Group bought a 79% stake in Russia's largest outdoor advertising operator in News Corp Rupert Murdoch. As Forbes market sources say, while acting in the interests Hervey Vi advertising Seller, c whose CEO, Sergei Vasiliev, his friendly relations. In Russ Outdoor Board of Directors of the Company Hervey went just Vasiliev. In 2013, Hervey sold its stake in Russ Outdoor VTB.

Peter Hervey known in the Russian market in the first place as the founder"Maximum" anal CTC and radio. In 1989 he registered in Delaware company Story First Communications, which was later transformed into CTC Media. In 2007, after the company's IPO, American completely out of its capital. Hervey has also created advertising agency IMHO, the provider "Corvette-Telecom», Hello Magazine and the company Russian Media Ventures (together with the former shareholders of Vi). "System" From 2011 to 2013 he headed the company "media system", included in the AFC.

Sanoma looking for a buyer who would be willing to buy all Russian assets together, although many of the potential buyers showed interest only to specific assets. About SIM buying assets, according to various media reports, thought GK "Onexim" Mikhail Prokhorov, the founders RBC Herman Kaplun and Alexander Morgulchik, payment system Qiwi shareholder Boris Kim, co-owner of the former Ukrainian United Media Holding Vadim Goryainov. The head of the publishing house Hearst Shkulev Media (SIM unit has a glossy «Fashion news" mixed with Sanoma) Viktor Shkulev of Forbes said earlier, that he took advantage of his priority right and made an offer to purchase SIM magazines,dnako sides failed to agree. On Wednesday, October 15 at Forbes Shkulev call is not answered.