American buyout specialist Lone Star has filed for regulatory approval to buy a German bank through its US and Bermuda investment funds, AFX news agency reported on Friday.

Lone Star has filed for regulatory approval to acquire Mitteleuropaeische Handelsbank (MHB) from state-owned NordLB, according to a spokeswoman for the German federal cartel office.

Lone Star's US fund and its Bermuda-based fund are planning to buy all shares in MHB together, she said.

The cartel office has a maximum period of four months to make a decision on the matter, but the spokeswoman said decisions are usually made within a shorter time.

NordLB and Lone Star were not immediately available for comment.

Lone Star's chief executive Karsten von Koeller earlier this month told German media the company is in exclusive talks to buy MHB. In a more general statement, he also said Lone Star is still interested in acquiring a German bank to handle German loan portfolios.

According to recent Press reports, MHB is expected to sell for about 50 million euros.