Bertelsmann silent on report it eyes Harper Collins

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Bertelsmann BERT.UL on Wednesday declined to comment on a report that it was aiming to buy Harper Collins from Rupert Murdoch's media company News Corp. (NWSa.N: Quote, Profile, Research).
Germany's manager magazine reported without quoting sources that Bertelsmann was interested in buying publisher Harper Collins for $1 billion, adding that Murdoch was demanding $2 billion.
Bertelsmann's new chief executive, Hartmut Ostrowski, said last week that the company, Europe's biggest media firm, wants to spend up to 7 billion euros ($10.1 billion) to grow over the next five years.
Bertelsmann's interests include European broadcaster RTL, publishers Random House and Gruner + Jahr and half of music company Sony BMG (6758.T: Quote, Profile, Research).