Cirque du Soleil sale could net $2bn

Cirque du Soleil, the popular modern age circus company, has been put up for sale for a reported $2 billion, according to reports.

Guy Laliberté, the company's founder who owns a 90% stake in the business, plans to sell 80% and hold on to the remaining 10%, according to the Canadian newspaper Globe and Mail.

According to market analysts the stake could be valued at $2 billion.

In June 2014, Guy Laliberté announced he wanted to find a strategic partner after Cirque du Soleil had been unable to return a profit since 2012.

Initially, Laiberté wanted to sell a small stake, but interested parties insisted on having a controlling share.

The founder's condition for the sale is to keep the company's headquarters in Montreal and to maintain 1,600 permanent employees.