(Reuters) - Carlyle Group (NASDAQ:CG) Inc and Advent International Corp are among several buyout firms considering a bid for DuPont (NYSE:DD) Inc's mobility and materials unit, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter.
Apollo Global Management (NYSE:APO) Inc and CVC Capital Partners are also studying the business, which could be valued at as much as $12 billion, according to the report.
Shares in DuPont rose around 1% in afternoon trading.
DuPont, once part of the erstwhile chemical giant DowDuPont has been tweaking its portfolio. It has separated its Nutrition & Biosciences business, agreed to divest two other businesses, and struck a deal to buy Laird Performance Materials for $2.3 billion in July.
The company, which makes everything from brake fluid to fabric for protective garments, is working with Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE:GS) to gauge interest in the unit, the report added.
DuPont declined to comment on the report.