The private equity owner of the company, Electra Partners Europe, confirmed that it had appointed KPMG to "sound out" potential buyers. According to bezier chief executive Brian Dudley the talks over a possible sale are "in the very early stages".

"Electra Partners have been an excellent principal shareholder for the past seven years," he said. "They feel that the time has come to review the situation and to gauge the feeling. But any deal will only be struck with the approval of all parties including shareholders, staff and clients."

Dudley refused to be drawn on a report in The Times that bezier could be sold for as much as 100m and that the offers could be submitted by June.

"This business has grown dramatically over the years and it is vital that whoever buys the stake shares the vision and excitement that we have in the company," he said.

SCA and St Ives have been mooted as potential trade buyers if the price was right, although a sale to another private equity firm is also deemed likely. Last year St Ives more than quadrupled the size of its point-of-sale business by buying SP Group.

Dudley added: "Any names linked to bezier would only be speculative at this stage as we are keeping our minds totally open. The important thing is that the day-to-day management team will stay in place."

Bezier was previously part of the Wace Group and was bought out by Electra Partners in May 1998.

A spokeswoman for Electra Partners said: "Electra believes now is the right time to sell but only if it is the right deal."

She would not confirm the 100m price, regarded as high by City sources. "Perhaps they are talking to Malcolm Glazer," quipped one source.

Bezier has a turnover of 45m and has a 510-strong workforce over five sites.

Story by Philip Chadwick