Barclays could sell off its private equity business as the bank attempts to strengthen its capital levels further.

Following the sale of investment management arm BGI, Barclays is considering selling other divisions, including Barclays Private Equity (BPE), according to weekend newspaper reports.

Barclays is said to be holding talks with investors in BPE, and may sell the entire division or part of the business.

The banking group has been focussed on raising enough money to satisfy the Financial Services Authority (FSA) that it could survive further economic shocks.

Barclays has already raised £7.3 billion from Middle Eastern investors and the sale of BGI is thought to have taken the bank’s capital ratio to 7.2 per cent, above the FSA’s target of six to seven per cent.

The bank earlier in the year public stated it had passed the FSA’s ‘stress tests’.

Barclays has declined to comment on the reports.