The name of giant US$70 billion private equity company TPG Capital is the latest of many to be mentioned as a possible buyer for Australia's Fairfax Media.

Leading Asian online property portal group PropertyGuru - used by more than 11 million property buyers across Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand - is among investments and could dovetail with Fairfax's Domain real estate website. As could the successful RentPath in the US.

Other investments in internet and digital media include music streaming site Spotify, "ride-sharing" site Uber, Airbnb and Cirque de Soleil.

The Australian newspaper's Margin Call column identified TPG as "running a ruler" over Fairfax, which is looking at splitting Domain into a separate ASX-quoted company.

It is also waiting on a decision from the New Zealand Commerce Commission - originally due by March 15 (but now deferred to April 11) - on whether it can sell its Kiwi publishing interests into a new business based on APN spin-off NZME. Public submissions are reported to run 25-2 against the merger.

Ahead of a decision, Fairfax NZ managing director Simon Tong has reported to have accepted a new role with ASB Bank, and will finish with Fairfax tomorrow week. Mr Tong was appointed manager director of Fairfax NZ in June 2013. Chief operating officer Andrew Boyle has been named to replace him as acting managing director.

There is still speculation about what will happen if the merger is knocked back: Options ranging from a sale to an unnamed bidder which has approached Fairfax, to closing operations, has been canvassed. Meanwhile Southern Cross Media has expressed an interest in NZME's radio assets.

Pictured: The Golden Gate bridge in TPG's home city of San Francisco