Last week, Springer's owners announced that their focus was on stock exchange listing. However, two people who are familiar with the discussions stated Monday that the direct sale of German publisher Springer Science+Business Media to BC Partners is still an option.

The two sources added that Springer Science's owners have entered new and intense discussions with BC Partners after rejecting the private equity's Eur3.1 billion bid and said it was too low.

Springer Science is owned by Swedish private equity firm EQT and the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation.

One source stated that the negotiations reached a close price while the other said that an agreement is soon to take place.

EQT refused to comment with said report. BC Partners was not immediately available to give statements. Springer Science also declined to give comment on the agreement.

Same sources said that BC Partners offered Eur3.15 billion for the company but was short of the minimum Eur3.3 billion price that EQT and GIC were looking for.