Sale talks have been put on hold between troubled Germany conglomerate Arcandor and Metro Group. Last week, Arcandor filed for bankruptcy protection in German courts.

Metro Group has offered to acquire the majority of the Arcandor's Karstadt department stores and combine them with its own Galeria Kaufhof department store chain. Arcandor now wants to look into all options, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Arcandor also owns a majority stake in U.K. travel firm Thomas Cook, specialty mail order companies of Primondo Group and home shopping channel HSE24, which are not affected by the recently announced administration.

The administration, which aims to restructure the business, follows a failed attempt by Arcandor to gain an aid package from the German government.