German payments company Wirecard to bid for Worldpay - Bloomberg

Aug 25 (Reuters) - German payments company Wirecard AG (Xetra: 747206 - news) has joined the bidding for British rival Worldpay Ltd (IPO-WORLD.L), Bloomberg reported.

Other suitors for Worldpay are U.S (Other OTC: UBGXF - news) . private equity firm Blackstone Group LP and buyout firm Hellman & Friedman.

Worldpay is also preparing for an initial public offering, which could value the firm at around 6 billion pounds ($9.42 billion), including about 2 billion pounds in debt.

No final decision has been made and a few potential buyers are still in the running, Bloomberg said, citing the people. (http://bloom.bg/1IdqPD3)

Owners of Worldpay, Advent International and Bain Capital, may also choose to proceed with IPO plans and not sell the company, Bloomberg reported, adding that a decision may be announced as early as next month.

Last month, Worldpay named Barclays (LSE: BARC.L - news) ' Deputy Chairman Michael Rake as its new chairman to help the process of going public.

Representatives at Worldpay and Wirecard could not immediately be reached for comments.

($1 = 0.6371 pounds) (Reporting by Rama Venkat Raman in Bengaluru; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)