Two Japanese IT services providers, Fujitsu and NTT Data, are said to be in talks to acquire a majority stake in Patni Computer Systems, according to reports in India's Economic Times.

Also alleged to be in the running is Indian engineering company, Larsen & Toubro, which already operates its own IT services division.

The newspaper cites unnamed sources who claim that the company’s three founders, brothers Narendra, Gajendra and Ashok Patni, are looking to offload part of their combined 46.5 percent holding in the company, along with private equity firm General Atlantic, which holds a 17.7 percent stake.

"The talks are on. But there are no exclusive talks to any of them at this point in time," said one source. "Patni is still talking to various suitors and a deal is still sometime away," he said.

It is likely that both Japanese companies would use Patni’s resources to boost their European businesses were the bids successful, as Japanese demand for offshore services is typically served from China.