Bloomberg reported on July 8 that Barclays Plc (NYSE: BCS), Britain’s second-largest bank, hired an adviser to sell its natural resource-focused private-equity unit, according to three people with knowledge of the matter.

The transaction might value Barclays Natural Resource Investments (BNRI) at between $1 billion and $1.4 billion, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the talks are private. In addition to the bank’s capital, BNRI also manages about 230 million pounds (US$394 million) on behalf of other investors.

Barclays is the latest bank to divest private-equity holdings as regulators press lenders to bolster their capital. Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc (NYSE: RBS, LONDON: RBS.L), Britain’s largest government-owned lender, agreed to sell its remaining stake in its buyout unit to Adams Street Partners LLC in May, while HSBC Holdings Plc (NYSE: HSBC, LONDON: HSBA.L) hired Campbell Lutyens & Co. to look at sale options for its direct-investment unit in February.

BNRI, which has invested at least $2 billion in more than 20 companies since it started in 2006, canceled plans to raise $900 million for an energy-focused fund,

Bloomberg reported in August 2012. The company’s investments include Continental Intermodal, a Texas-based business providing logistics services to the oil and gas market, and U.K.-based oil and gas company Chrysaor, according to its website.

A representative for Barclays declined to comment.