Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corp (4091.T) and private equity firm Carlyle Group CG.N have emerged as frontrunners to buy assets that gases groups Linde (LIN1.DE) and Praxair (PX.N) need to divest to seal their planned merger, people close to the matter said.

The bidders could finalize terms in the next few weeks on the sale of two packages of assets worth about $8 billion in total, the people added.

Taiyo is in the frame to bag the European package, while Carlyle would take the U.S. assets, they said.

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