Advent International, the global private equity firm, has entered into exclusive talks to buy Sportfive, a television rights distributor which controls access to some of Europe's top sporting events including football's European Champions' League and Italy's Serie A.

John Singer, managing director in Advent's London office, said his firm is engaged in exclusive talks with Paris-based Sportfive and has commenced due diligence. Singer declined to speculate on a possible price, but European newspaper reports have valued the deal at up to €550m ($672m).