J.C. Flowers & Co. LLC, The Blackstone Group Inc. (NYSE:BX), Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE:KKR) (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) (KKR) and Bain Capital, LP, among the world's biggest private equity companies and distressed asset buyers, have expressed interest in buying either the whole or parts Reliance Capital Limited (NSEI:RELCAPITAL), two people familiar with the process told ET.

These bulge-bracket buyout firms are among more than 20 such entities, including domestic asset construction companies (ARCs), which have expressed interest in the resolution process initiated by creditors to the financial conglomerate that skipped scheduled payments. “There have been eight EoIs for the entire RCap assets on an asis-where-is basis. The prominent among them are Oaktree, JC Flowers and multiple ARCs,” said a person briefed on the bids.

A second person involved in the process confirmed that top global firms have expressed interest but also added that the process is still in its initial stages and serious bidders can only be identified after the financial bids are received. “Different investors have shown interest in different parts of the business and some have shown interest for multiple parts of the business. More than 20 different firms are in play in various permutations and combinations,” said the second person cited above.

RCap didn't comment, while executives at the individual likely bidders could not be contacted.