The new bidders appear to have topped two other groups of private equity investors.

"There seemed to be new bidders, a different group than in the past."

"But this time it really took off, with new bidders prepared to pay serious money."

It is not unknown for a new bidder to appear this late.

It was a year before he could sell the building to a new high bidder - at a figure below what the nurse had offered.

There is also the likelihood that a new bidder may emerge.

Any new bidder will have to fund the cost of laying off some staff.

And the new bidder seems to have a much better chance of passing a difficult co-op board?

They could sell the rights to new bidders or exploit them themselves.

City officials said the city would open the project to new bidders within the next few months.