Emap's French division, which is reported to be worth over £400m, includes the French version of Closer and TV listings magazines Tele Star and Tele Poche.
According to the Financial Times, Candover joins a growing number of European publishing houses that have expressed an interest in Emap's French division recently.
Citigroup and BNP Paribas, which are advising Emap on the auction, are believed to have received interest from: Barclays Private Capital; Lagardere Mondadori, which publishes the Italian version of Grazia; Bertelsmann and Axel Springer of Germany; and Belgian publisher Roularta.
Last year, Emap revealed that operating profits at its French division were down 50% to £14m. The launch of Closer in June last year, at a cost of £6m, and the struggling TV listings titles are believed to be partly responsible for the fall.
However, the news has not dissuaded potential buyers, which are aware unions at Emap's French division is pushing for better terms and conditions in exchange for keeping the sale, which Emap is keen to complete by late September, on course.
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