Article: ITV faces [pounds sterling]160m loss on Friends Reunited; Broadcaster is close to selling networking site; Friends Reunited sale.(Business)

Byline: MARK FOXWELL

TROUBLED ITV is close to selling the social networking site Friends Reunited to entrepreneur Peter Dubens in a deal worth about [pounds sterling]15 million - a massive [pounds sterling]160 million loss on its investment.

Dubens' private equity firm, Oakley Capital, is understood to be in exclusive talks to acquire the business, which ITV put up for sale in February, said a source close to the negotiations.

The broadcaster bought the business in December 2005 for [pounds sterling]175 million. But the site, which has 19 million registered users, has since been overshadowed by rivals such as Facebook and is thought to be ...

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