According to comments made in a Reuters report, the talks between the two press manufacturers are being driven by Allianz Capital Partners, which holds a 65% stake in Manroland and a 12% stake in Heidelberg.

It is also claimed that the new centre right German government's views on the possible merger also present another issue regarding the talks.

German financial newsletter The Platow Brief said the deal could move forward in the next fortnight, however, previous reports have stated that the merger could only go ahead if both manufacturers sold assets in order to secure backing from European Union authorities.

It was previously claimed that the merger would require both press manufacturers to shed some assets where businesses overlap and, by doing so, this would help gain much-needed backing from the anti-trust authorities.

Heidelberg and Manroland declined to comment.