Lexmark Owners Consider $2 Billion Sale of Printer Maker.

The owners of Lexmark International Inc. are considering selling the laser printer maker for $2 billion, sources familiar with the situation say.

The shareholders, including Asian private equity firm PAG, are working with an adviser to gauge interest in the company. A potential sale could attract various buyout funds and is valued at between $1.8 billion and $2 billion, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the private nature of the discussions.

In 2016, a consortium led by Chinese printer maker Apex Technology Co. and PAG acquired Lexmark as a private company in a deal worth $3.6 billion, including debt, with participation from Legend Capital. Apex has since renamed itself Ninestar Corp.

Following the acquisition, Lexmark's new owners sold its enterprise software division to private equity firm Thoma Bravo.

Based in Lexington, Kentucky, Lexmark is now led by CEO Alan Wogerman, a longtime employee since the company's inception. Following the takeover, the company retains management under a U.S.-based board and an all-American executive team, as noted on its website.

Those discussions are at an early stage and there is no guarantee they will lead to a sale, the sources added. Representatives for Lexmark and PAG declined to comment, and requests for comment from Legend Capital and Ninestar went unanswered.