A spokesperson for Thyssenkrupp said that a spinoff was the best option to divest its defence business. This came after a German paper reported on Tuesday that several bidders had submitted offers for the unit.

Carlyle, the German state lender KfW and Thyssenkrupp were all set to buy a majority stake of Thyssenkrupp's Marine Systems (TKMS), but in October, Carlyle pulled out. Thyssenkrupp was left to look for alternatives.

"Following Carlyle's exit, we remain committed to our path of independence for Thyssenkrupp. In order to achieve this, we are preparing TKMS for a spin-off," said a spokeswoman when asked about a Handelsblatt report.

The Business Daily reported, citing sources familiar with this process, that Thyssenkrupp received bids from Rheinmetall and Luerssen, as well as the German government, for its Marine Systems division.

A spokesperson for the company said that it was in talks with the German Government about possible participation.

The spokesperson said that "independence is a good place to start for possible national and European integration."

CFO of the company said that next year was a realistic date for the spinoff of this unit which manufactures submarines and frigates.

Rheinmetall declined comment. Luerssen parent company NVL was not immediately accessible. (Reporting and writing by Christoph Steitz, edited by Rachel More. Madeline Chambers)

(source: Reuters)