The German government is increasingly confident of securing a complete take­over of Hypo Real Estate without resorting to a controversial expropriation of shareholders in the stricken bank.

Soffin, the government-backed bank rescue fund, will reveal on Thursday whether its offer to buy shares from investors has given it majority control of HRE. By Monday evening – hours before the deadline to accept the state’s €1.39-a-share offer – Berlin already had almost 41 per cent of HRE shares.