Sources told Bloomberg that Lone Star Funds, Apollo Global Management and Goldman Sachs Group Inc had placed bids for the Irish properties that were put up for sale by Lloyds Banking Group. Aside from the three US investment companies, Ireland's biggest securities firm Davy also gave its bid, two of the sources said. The people spoke on the condition of anonymity as the transaction was private. The deadline for submission of initial bids would be on September 30.

A Bloomberg report said brokerage firm Jones Lang LaSalle Inc was asking for EUR 140 million or USD 191 million for a Ulysses portfolio comprised of 25 properties in Dublin. The portfolio included office buildings, apartments, stores and the headquarters of the Justice Ministry.

Three years ago, Lloyds decided to exit from its Irish unit. Data gathered by Bloomberg News showed that Lloyds was burdened with impairment charges worth GBP 12.5 billion or USD 20 billion after the collapse of Ireland's real estate market in 2008.