Hefner Proposes To Buy Up Playboy Shares

Earlier this year (10), bosses at Hefner's Playboy Enterprises announced they were downsizing and laying off employees to offset losing readers and falling revenue.

The announcement sparked reports Hefner would sell his stock in the racy magazine, but the 84-year-old mogul has instead proposed to pay $5.50 (£3.70) per share for those he doesn't already own in a deal with private equity firm Rizvi Traverse Management LLC. The move would take the company private, reports the New York Times.

However, Hefner's proposal still has to be approved by company board members before he can move forward with the purchase.