FriendFinder

Playboy Enterprises, which founder and major shareholder Hugh Hefner wants to take private, reports that its second-quarter loss eased as gains in its licensing business offset declines in publishing.

Hugh Hefner's offer to buy all of Playboy Enterprises and take it private may look like a slam-dunk because he already owns so much of it. Not so. Some big shareholders say it's a low-ball bid, and already FriendFinder has made a higher offer.

Playboy has missed the Internet revolution, resulting in a dismal performance for shareholders. Web adult entertainment network and Penthouse owner FriendFinder wants to buy the company for at least $210 million -- a chance for Playboy to get online assets.

FriendFinder Network, formerly known as Penthouse, needs money fast. The weight of hundreds of millions of dollars of debt has prompted it to turn to public capital markets. It%u2019s a desperate move -- in fact, the same move the company made a year ago under the same circumstances.