Private equity investment firm 3i made a bid to acquire the shares it does not yet own in ferry group Scandlines. The offer from 3i came after no buyer was found for the company earlier in the summer. Allianz Capital Partners and 3i bought Scandlines for EUR 1.5 billion in 2007. Now, 3i would be bidding for the half that Allianz Capital owns. A source told Reuters that 3i's offer of the 50% stake puts the value of the ferry company at more than EUR 1.3 billion or USD 1.7 billion than what buyout firm TPG offered for the whole Scandlines.

Both 3i and Allianz Capital Partners also told Reuters that they were working together to refinance the existing debts of the ferry group. They confirmed what sources told Reuters earlier in the week. People familiar with the process said both private equity companies were talking with banks for a refinance loan facility of about EUR 1 billion or USD 1.3 billion. The agreement was set to be finalized in the next few weeks.