As a “sign of his belief in the company,” News Corp. chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch purchased $20 million of non-voting stock in his media conglomerate.

The purchase, disclosed in a regulatory filing on Thursday, is Murdoch's “largest stock purchase in years,” according to The Wall Street Journal, a Murdoch-owned publication.

Reporting on Murdoch's purchase, The Hollywood Reporter noted, “News Corp. shares last year underperformed its peers amid concerns about a bid to take full control of U.K. satellite TV provider BSkyB and the outlook for MySpace, among other issues."

Two of Murdoch's U.K. publications are currently mired in a high-profile phone-hacking controversy that some say threatens to undermine his multi-billion dollar BSkyB bid.

On Wednesday, News Corporation raised $2.5 billion with the announcement from News America -- a News Corp. subsidiary -- of “a private placement of $2.5 billion of new debt in two issues.” From Radio & Television Business Report:

The News America Inc. subsidiary of News Corporation announced a private placement of $2.5 billion of new debt in two issues. Moody's Investors Service immediately gave the new bonds investment grade ratings.

News America sold $1 billion of 4.5% senior notes due 2021 and $1.5 billion of senior notes due 2041. The company said the proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes and to refinance near-term debt maturities.

Moody's assigned a Baa1 rating to both new issues.