Blackstone Group LP, Hellman & Friedman LLC, along with Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and GIC Pte. Ltd., are considering making a play for Nielsen Holdings PLC, London's Financial Times reported Oct. 9, citing three sources with knowledge of the matter.

Nielsen, which is considering a range of options for the company, is reportedly valued at about $17 billion. Nielsen has a market capitalization of roughly $10 billion.

Sources, however, said the talks are still in an early stage and it remains to be seen if a deal will be reached. A report by Bloomberg News in September indicated that Carlyle Group LP was also considering submitting a bid to buy Nielsen.

Nielsen has engaged J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Guggenheim Securities LLC as financial advisers, and Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz as legal counsel in connection with its strategic review.