The financial investor Hellmann & Friedman has increased its offer in the multi-billion bidding war for the Munich online pet supplies retailer Zooplus.
The consideration in cash would be increased by EUR 70 from EUR 390 per share to EUR 460 per Zooplus share, Hellmann & Friedman announced on Monday night.
The increase should "end the ongoing speculation about other, but still uncertain, indicative offers from third parties".
Zooplus is also in talks with Swedish financial investor EQT and US financial investor KKR.
Hellman & Friedman plans to take the company, founded in 1999 and active in more than 30 European countries, off the stock exchange after the takeover in order to master the realignment.
Zooplus needs fresh money in order to be able to continue to play an active role in the hotly contested market with competitors such as Fressnapf, Pets At Home from Great Britain or the jack-of-all-trades Amazon.