Scandlines Ferry Deal Could Drop In November

The Danish and German governments plan to sell the joint-owned Scandlines ferry line and companies from Sweden, Denmark and Germany had expressed an interest in buying the firm. "We are currently studying the possibilities (for a sale) and we expect to make a decision in mid-November," Danish Transport Ministry spokesman Michael Birch said. The state railways of Denmark and Germany each own a 50 percent stake in Scandlines AG.

The Danish-German ferry company was originally expected to go public only in a few years' time, but this would not be the case if Scandlines succeeded in finding a buyer, Birch said. He added that companies in Denmark, Germany, Sweden and further afield had expressed an interest in buying the firm.

The companies had been asked to present bids for Scandlines, but Birch declined to elaborate on a price. Danish media have named Germany's Deutsche Seereederei, Swedish Stena Line and Danish shipping group DFDS as potential bidders.

Scandlines operates 20 ferry routes in and around the Baltic as well as in Danish territorial waters.