Alamar Foods is considering an initial public offering (IPO) that would allow The Carlyle Group Inc. (NasdaqGS:CG) sell some of its stake, three sources familiar with the matter said. Alamar Foods has hired HSBC to arrange the share sale, the sources told Reuters. They said deliberations were at an early stage and no final decision had been made.

Alamar Foods did not immediately respond to a request for comment. HSBC declined to comment. Carlyle did not respond to a request for comment.

The sources said Carlyle would use the IPO to stage a partial exit, with one source saying it planned to sell about 30%. AlJammaz family aimed to retain their majority ownership, the sources said.