MOSCOW, June 17 (RIA Novosti) - Prof-Media, Russia's largest private media holding owned by Russian billionaire Vladimir Potanin, could hold an IPO in the second half of 2009, the company's investment director said Tuesday.

Sergei Tikhonov said the company would make a final decision on the initial public offering at the end of 2008 and at the beginning of 2009.

If a decision is made, the company intends to offer 20-30% of its stock to investors, Tikhonov said.

At the same time, the company's official did not rule out the possibility that Prof-Media could be sold to a strategic investor.

Prof-Media is the largest private investor in key sectors of the Russian media market. It controls a network of multiplex movie theaters, holds a controlling stake in the Central Partnership film distribution and production company, is a leading producer and distributor of TV programs and films, and runs radio stations in Moscow and St. Petersburg, a TV channel and other assets.

Prof-Media's combined revenue amounted to $480 million in 2007.