To date, the company's dual-class ownership structure has deterred outside investors from pushing for change in Ochs-Sulzberger control. As of 2008, however, two hedge funds, Harbinger Capital and Firebrand Partners, bought 19 percent of The Times. On September 10, 2008, it was reported that Carlos Slim, one of the world's wealthiest men, had acquired a 6.4 percent stake for $120 million. These moves were seen as putting increasing pressure on the company whose advertising and circulation have faltered recently. The downturn in print advertising sales has recently spread to the Internet, and some observers speculate that the recent acquisitions of Times Company stock might put increasing pressure on the family to sell or take the company private to escape Wall Street's attention. The newspaper is currently over one billion dollars in debt. (*)
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