Gates Firm in Group Weighing Bid for Univision

Bill Gates' investment firm is part of a group exploring a bid for Univision Communications Inc., the Los Angeles-based Spanish-language broadcaster said Friday.

Univision said in a filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission that the group of companies exploring options for a bid included Grupo Televisa of Mexico and Cascade Investment, which manages the private investments of Microsoft Corp. Chairman Gates.

Bain Capital Partners, Blackstone Management Associates V, Carlyle Investment Management and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. also are part of the group, the filing said.

A second consortium including Goldman, Sachs & Co., Thomas H. Lee Partners and Texas Pacific Group also has reportedly been weighing a bid for Univision.