DNV is not commenting on the article in Die Welt newspaper, which says a tie-up could be announced as soon as next week.

GL said: “Germanischer Lloyd is not for sale."

In 2006, the German society was taken over by domestic retail tycoon Gunter Herz for a reported EUR 575m ($757m) after shareholders rejected an offer from French rival Bureau Veritas.

Before that, in 2000, GL called off merger talks with DNV after the Norwegian company tried to turn the deal into a full takeover.

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