Candover, the private equity group, has been approached by a number of possible bidders for Ontex, its Belgian-based nappy maker, which people close to the company believe is worth about €950m (£808m).

A sale of Ontex would generate capital for Candover Investments, the private equity group’s troubled listed parent, which on Monday said it had broken off takeover talks with potential bidders for itself after shoring up its own finances.