(Reuters) -Domino's Pizza Enterprises on Tuesday denied receiving a takeover proposal from Bain Capital after a report said the private equity firm was looking at buying the whole or part of the Australian franchise operator.

The Australian Financial Review said a potential deal could be worth up to A$4 billion ($2.60 billion), citing people familiar with the matter.

The Australian pizza chain operator had a market value of A$1.46 billion, as of Monday's close, as per LSEG data.

Bain Capital did not immediately respond to a Reuters' request for comment.

Shares of Domino's Pizza Enterprises surged 23% to A$19.00 a piece in early trade before trading was halted.

After the franchise reporter denied the media report, shares gave up those early gains to trade only 3.7% higher at A$16.02.

Domino's Pizza Enterprises runs the largest master franchise of the U.S.-based Domino's Pizza in 12 countries across Asia, Europe, and Australia and New Zealand.

($1 = 1.5389 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Sameer Manekar in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)