Technology giant Thomson declined to comment on a report that its top executive was seeking to delist the company through a leveraged buyout valued at nearly 7 billion euros ($8.6 billion), an AFP report said.
The report quoted a company spokesperson as saying that "we do not comment on acquisition rumors."
A Wall Street Journal report, citing industry sources, earlier said Thomson CEO Frank Dangeard was working on such a plan, the AFP report said.
The newspaper, quoted by AFP, said Dangeard had asked the investment fund Silver Lake Partners to lead the deal.
Dangeard felt the company's projects would be easier to finance once Thomson was delisted and hoped to have the deal approved at the annual shareholders meeting on May 12, the report quoted a source as saying.
Silver Lake Partners bought Thomson convertible bonds in 2004, giving it a 7.5% stake in the company. David Roux, one of the firm's co-founders, sat on Thomson's board, the report said.
The report also said that Blackstone Group, Providence Equity Partners and Apax Partners were among the funds that had been approached to take part in the leveraged buyout.