It was just six years ago when a four party private equity consortium paid more than $11 billion for Warsaw-based Biomet. Now, a London newspaper is reporting the owners are contemplating selling the company to another investment group or opening it to public trade.

The Financial Times of London relied on three unnamed individuals who claim to have  knowledge of the situation. Those sources said the owners – including affiliates of Blackstone Group, Goldman Sachs & Co., Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. and Texas Pacific Group, along with Dane Miller, a Biomet founder and former chief executive – are considering taking the orthopedic devices manufacturer public or selling it to another investment group.

Biomet has offered no statement on the claim.

The speculation opens up at least one scenario that could see Biomet merge with rival Smith & Nephew. That is according to the London Financial Times, which quoted BMO analyst Joanne Wuensch. “It is commonly thought that Smith & Nephew and Biomet, which are the 4th and 5th largest companies by market share in the sector, will get together at some point,” she said.

Just one year ago Biomet released its fiscal 2012 financial results which showed a net loss of nearly $458 million. Biomet has not yet released its financial report for fiscal year 2013 which ended May 31.

Biomet employs about 8,000 worldwide, including about 1,500 in Warsaw.