By the end of last month, Bloomberg reported that Bain Capital, a U.S.-based private equity firm, has been eyeing a buyout of Osram. Soon after that, another private equity company, Carlyle, reportedly joined the list of potential bidders for the German lighting technology group, according to Financial Times.

The report of Financial Times noted that two people directly involved in the situation have confirmed Carlyle’s interest in the buyout of Osram. But neither Carlyle nor Osram commented on the information.

(Image: Osram)

Osram has been through a financial struggle and adjusted its profit guide line twice this year due to market uncertainty as many of its clients in the automotive industry have encountered difficulties caused by the trade conflict between China and the U.S. and new regulations.

In response to the hardship, the German company has been restructuring its organization with the aim to transform itself into a high tech company. It has sold its general lighting business LEDVANCE to MLS last year and announced to cut off its luminaires business by the end of July, 2018.

Osram’s current market value is EUR 4 billion (US$4.55 billion). The stock price of the company has risen by 5 percent to EUR 40.08 after the announcement. Osram’s share price had dropped to a four-year low in the past year but has bounced back since Bain Capital offered the buyout.