Intel might sell the security business formerly known as McAfee which it bought for $7.7 billion in 2011, according to the Financial Times.

The chipmaker has been discussing the possibility of a disposal with bankers.

Among potential acquirers are, inevitably, private equity buyers, or even a consortium of such firms, given the size of any deal.

Earlier this month, Bain Capital sold Blue Coat Security to Symantec for nearly twice what it paid for it in 2015. Intel announced its $7.7 billion bid for McAfee back in August 2010, with the deal closing in February of the following year.

The original vision for the deal was to embed McAfee’s security functionality on Intel’s chip but six years on that has yet to materialise, so raising the prospect of a sale.

Intel declined to comment.