Recently, a binding bid for soft drinks maker Orangina Schweppes was raised by Japanese brewer Suntory, said its private equity owners. This has come as a sign that buy-out houses might find it simpler to come out of investments. 

Though the price for the offer was not mentioned by Blackstone Group and Lion Capital; however reports suggest that a higher offer for Orangina than the original $2.6 billion price tag will be made by Suntory -- itself the target of a takeover bid from Kirin.  

Orangina, which after growing volumes and stepping up investment in trade and consumer marketing, is the second largest European producer in the still soft drinks market. 

In 2006 prior to debt markets slammed shut and buy-outs ground to a virtual halt, the eponymous producer of Orangina and Schweppes -- whose cocktail of brands also includes Snapple, Oasis and La Casera were bought by Blackstone and Lion.  

Since beer sales are decreasing in their rapidly ageing home market, Japanese drinks firms are eager to enter international markets. 

"Social, regulatory and legal steps will need to be completed before they decide whether or not to accept the bid," said Blackstone and Lion.