A number of private equity groups may be interested in bookstore chain Barnes & Noble (BKS), Reuters reported.

Private equity firms including Bain Capital and Apollo are interested in "taking a look" at the company, Reuters said without naming its sources.

Barnes & Noble, which has a market value of about $900 million, said Tuesday that it was reviewing options including a possible sale.

Private equity has been chasing smaller deals recently, as the credit crisis has made financing for multi-billion dollar deals more expensive.