Private equity firm The Carlyle Group Inc. (NasdaqGS:CG) is preparing to enter advanced negotiations to acquire a majority stake in thyssenkrupp AG (XTRA:TKA)'s naval shipbuilding unit in a deal that could value the business at about ?1.5 billion ($1.6 billion) including debt, people familiar with the matter said. Talks are progressing and the beleaguered German conglomerate could announce as soon as this week that it's entering advanced discussions with Carlyle on terms of a deal, the people said, asking not to be identified because the information is private.