June 23 (Reuters) - U.S.-based private equity firm

Warburg Pincus is in talks to sell its stake in State Bank of

India's general insurance unit, Bloomberg News reported

on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Warburg Pincus is negotiating with Premji Invest, the

investment unit of Indian billionaire Azim Premji, and SBI, the

country's largest lender, to divest its 10% stake in SBI General

Insurance, the report said.

The transaction could value SBI General Insurance at as much

as $4.5 billion, Bloomberg News reported.

Reuters could not independently verify the report. Premji

Invest and SBI did not immediately respond to Reuters' request

for comment, while Warburg declined to comment.

Premji Invest and a Warburg Pincus affiliate bought stakes

of 16.01% and approximately 10%, respectively, in SBI General in

2019, in a deal worth $432.38 million.

SBI currently owns about 70% of SBI General Insurance.