Aug 20 (Reuters) - Private equity firm CVC Capital Partners is preparing a bid for British challenger bank Aldermore, Sky News reported on Thursday, joining a growing field of suitors for the lender owned by South Africa's FirstRand.

• CVC has been laying the groundwork for a potential offer for months and is expected to submit a takeover proposal ahead of a September deadline, according to the report.

• FirstRand said in April it would exit Aldermore after anticipated payouts tied to a UK motor finance mis-selling scandal forced it to raise provisions to £750 million.

• Sky News, which earlier named Lloyds Banking Group, Shawbrook and Metro Bank as potential bidders, said Metro Bank was now unlikely to bid.

• CVC, Aldermore, FirstRand and Metro Bank declined to comment.

• Sky News also said advisers were expected to allow bidders to make separate offers for Aldermore's banking operations and MotoNovo, its motor-finance arm.

(Reporting by Anushka Chourasia in Bengaluru; additional reporting by Krisha Bhatt; Editing by Tasim Zahid and Joyjeet Das)

Find it fast

Looking for more insights? Explore our other news sections for updates on sustainable finance, companies and financial education