Axel Springer SE, Germany's biggest news publisher, has expressed interest in a takeover of The Telegraph (Telegraph Media Group Limited) almost two decades after it lost out in the previous sale of the title. The Berlin-headquartered company, which has the US private equity firm KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE:KKR) as its dominant shareholder, has notified The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE:GS) of its desire to participate in the forthcoming sale of the newspaper group.

The investment bank has been appointed to find a new owner for The Telegraph by receivers acting for Lloyds Banking Group plc (LSE:LLOY), which seized control in June following a dispute with the previous owners, the Barclay family. The family had secured borrowing in excess of £1 billion against the company. Springer declined to comment.

Its expression of interest was first reported by Sky News. The move renews Springer's attraction to The Telegraph following its involvement in the 2004 auction won by the Barclays. The auction of The Telegraph is expected to begin within weeks.

Potential rivals to Springer include hedge fund manager and GB Newsco-owner Sir Paul Marshall, who has lined up backing from the American billionaire Ken Griffin; DMGT, the owner of the Daily Mail, controlled by Lord Rothermere; William Lewis, a former editor of The Telegraph, who has said he has lined up funding for a takeover; and the regional newspaper group National World. The Barclay family has also made a series of bids to regain control of The Telegraph and The Spectator magazine, which Lloyds also seized.