Leading Gome executives have spoken in recent days to several overseas rivals and global private equity funds about an investment, people familiar with the situation said.

Shares in Hong Kong-listed Gome were suspended late last month after it emerged that Huang Guangyu, its chairman and one of China's richest people, had been arrested by mainland police in connection with the suspected share price manipulation of two small companies. His whereabouts remain unknown.

The arrest of Mr Huang, who founded the company and built it into China's largest retailer of electronics and appliances, has cast a shadow over Gome's future as it attempts to weather a slowdown in China.