Apax Partners, Allianz Capital Partners and Lufthansa, the three main shareholders in Tank & Rast, the German motorway service station operator, will make a final decision on whether to float in the next fortnight.

A spokesman for Tank & Rast said: "We are going to test the market and see whether it is right. Whether we take it forward remains to be seen. We have a two-week window and we are ready now."