06:24 AM EDT, 06/20/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Carlyle Group ( CG ) and KKR (KKR) are the top bidders for Discover Financial's (DFS) $10 billion US student loan portfolio, the Financial Times reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The two private equity firms collaborating on their bid reflects these firms' interest to expand their appetite for credit, the report said.

Other private equity firms, including Ares, Blackstone, Brookfield, Fortress, and Oaktree, also considered bidding on the portfolio, the report added.

Carlyle, Discover Financial and KKR did not immediately respond to MT Newswires' request for comment.

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