Thyssenkrupp selects bidders

Thyssenkrupp has shortlisted three private equity consortia in the auction of its prized 15 billion euro ($16.6 billion) elevator business, people close to the matter said, and peer Kone could still submit a bid later this month.

A consortium of buyout groups Advent and Cinven and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, which are working with Germany’s RAG Stiftung, remains in the running, the people said.

Also still in the race is a bidding team consisting of Blackstone, Carlyle and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. The third group is led by Canada’s Brookfield, they said.

Kone, working with private equity firm CVC, has been given until Jan. 27 to submit an offer, the sources said, while private equity bidders had to hand in bids by Jan. 13.

“Management is apparently unable to make a decision even though there are decent offers on the table and pressure on (CEO Martina) Merz grows by the day,” a person close to the process said.

Thyssenkrupp and the bidders declined to comment or were not immediately available for comment.

Under pressure after numerous profit warnings, Thyssenkrupp needs to rake in cash by selling all or part of its elevator business, the world’s fourth-largest industry player and by far the group’s most profitable asset.

The group has launched a dual-track process for the division, which could result in a sale or a listing, but chances for the latter are seen dwindling as proceeds from a partial flotation might not be sufficient.

Meanwhile, German economic growth slowed last year to its lowest rate in six years as global trade tensions, export weakness and a persistent downturn in the automotive industry took their toll on Europe’s largest economy.

Reuters