TOKYO/NEW YORK, Dec 11 (Reuters) - Japanese eyecare

products maker TopCon ( TOPCF ) is exploring going private and

other measures to raise corporate value, it said in a statement,

following reports that private equity firms were placing bids to

buy the company.

Private equity firms including KKR & Co ( KKR ) are bidding

to acquire the company, two sources with knowledge of the matter

said. Bloomberg News first reported the bids on Tuesday, naming

Swedish investment firm EQT as another of the

contenders.

"We are always considering various measures to enhance our

corporate value, not only the measures mentioned in the report,"

TopCon ( TOPCF ) said in the statement dated on Tuesday, adding that

nothing had been decided.

KKR and EQT both declined to comment.

TopCon ( TOPCF ) shares rose as much as 23% on Wednesday, giving it a

market cap of around 280 billion yen ($1.85 billion), according

to Reuters calculations based on LSEG data.

The possibility of TopCon ( TOPCF ) going private comes as Japan's

corporate governance reforms, increasing shareholder activism

and a weak yen make for a conducive dealmaking environment,

especially for private equity firms.

Established in 1932, Tokyo-based TopCon ( TOPCF ) manufactures and

sells eyecare, smart infrastructure and positioning products.

Its sales reached 216.5 billion yen in 2023, its website showed.

Activist investor ValueAct Capital is a shareholder in

TopCon ( TOPCF ), holding a 13.69% stake, LSEG data showed.

($1 = 151.6600 yen)