Investment firms are vying for a potential buyout of the cash point maker NCR, which could be worth as much as $10bn (£6.4bn).
Sources familiar with the matter told the newswire Reuters that US investors including the Blackstone Group and the Carlyle Group were considering a joint bid for the company, in a purchase that would include debt.
Other potential buyers were said to include Apollo Global Management and Thoma Bravo, with the contest possibly leading to more partnerships being formed so that investors can create a competitive bid.
The sources said at present there is no guarantee that the purchase will take place, but the current bidding process was said to be several weeks away from completion.
NCR has been facing pressure from shareholders to investigate new financial arrangements in the wake of a slight yearly revenue decline during the first quarter and weakening share prices since October 2013.
At the same time the firm has been looking into the emerging market for smart ATMs, launching Kalpana software that will take the cash point operations to the cloud, facilitating a greater range of services and data usage.
Robert Johnson, global director of software solutions at NCR, told CBR earlier this year that "banks are under increasing demands from consumers to provide a very engaging level of service".
He also described how updated cash points could create opportunities in poorer regions of the world which lack the banking infrastructure of wealthier places.
A spokseman for NCR told CBR that the company does not comment on rumour or speculation, whilst Thoma Bravo and Carlyle declined comment.
The other parties involved have yet to responded to requests for comment from CBR around the potential purchase.
