Hefner to sell Playboy to Branson?
Hugh Hefner is reportedly lining up Richard Branson to take over his Playboy empire.
Hefner's company - founded 56 years ago - is battling the recession and the rise in internet pornography, with the firm recently posting losses of $13m (€9.3m) for the first three months of 2009.
Sources suggest the 83-year-old is thinking of retiring and courting Virgin boss Branson as a potential buyer - with a price-tag set at $300m (€215m) .
A Playboy spokesperson denied any offers had been made, but admitted Hefner would "listen to proposals that could create value for all of our shareholders".
