Private equity firm TPG Capital will soon attempt to buy Fairfax Media, according to reports in Fairfax papers.

The move would come just a few weeks after Fairfax announced plans to spin off its growing Domain.com.au real estate arm into a separate ASX-listed entity.

The move has been seen as an attempt to get markets to realise the value of Domain separately to the declining value of Fairfax’s traditional media assets.

Fairfax Media owns the Australian Financial Review (AFR), Domain, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and a range of regional newspapers.

According to the AFR’s Street Talk column this week, TPG Capital is trying to decide whether to bid for the whole company now, or wait for Domain to be spun-off.  

“An approach could now come as early as this week,” it predicts.

“It is surprising that no one from the TPG side of the fence has launched a charm offensive at the man known as The Cat,” the article states, referring to Domain boss Antony Catalano.