UPDATE 5-EQT lines up to challenge Informa for Springer

* EQT lines up loan, Informa in talks with Springer

* Springer sale seen valued at around 2.6 bln euros

* Springer owners said in Oct they were mulling full sale

* Informa seen needing 1-1.5 bln stg capital increase

(Adds reaction)

By Tessa Walsh and Kate Holton

LONDON, Nov 24 (Reuters) - British media group Informa's (INF.L: Quote, Profile, Research) move to buy Springer Science and Business Media could face private equity competition as sources said EQT was lining up a loan of more than a billon pounds to help fund a rival bid.

Debt-laden Springer Science and Business Media, valued at around 2.6 billion euros ($3.9 billion) including debt, was put up for sale earlier this year by its private equity owners Candover (CDI.L: Quote, Profile, Research) and Cinven [CINV.UL].

They now face a choice between a trade buyer offering a higher price with business synergies and a faster sale to private equity.