Shares of 3Com (NASDAQ: COMS) rose on Wednesday, the day after a Wall Street Journal report said that the firm has been approached by possible buyers in recent months.

Private equity firms such as, Silver Lake Partners and Bain Capital LLC approached 3Com about a purchase, the Journal said on its website on Tuesday.

In addition, Nortel Networks may also be interested in 3Com, the Journal said, citing people familiar with the matter.

Shares of 3Com gained 17 cents, or 3.92 percent to reach $4.53 in afternoon trading on Nasdaq Stock Market.