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* Credit Suisse, Citi, HSBC mandated - sources
* China woes cast doubt on timing of IPO - sources
* Intention to float could still come this month - source (Adds further comments, background on IPO plans)
FRANKFURT, Sept 4 (Reuters) - German container shippinggroup Hapag-Lloyd has taken further steps inpreparation of a stock market listing and has mandated morebanks for the move, but it remains undecided on the timing ofthe deal, people familiar with the situation said.
Credit Suisse, Citi and HSBC havebeen asked to help organise the initial public offering,alongside global coordinators Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, andBerenberg, the people said. Three further banks including MMWarburg are acting in further roles, one of the people said.
Hapag-Lloyd and the banks declined to comment.
Last month, Hapag-Lloyd decided to prepare for an officialannouncement of the IPO as early as September, but China'smarket woes have prompted it to reconsider the timing of thedeal, the people said.
"The Hapag-Lloyd story needs a strong market, as itsbusiness depends on global growth and trade flows," one of thepeople said.
Investor assumptions on the development of the China marketcrisis and potential effects on the real economy and tradeactivity are being taken into account when picking a date forthe flotation, the person said.
"No final decision has been taken, the intention to floatmay still be published later this month," the person said.
Between 20 and 40 European listings are scheduled in thenext few months, and bankers involved in such deals are hopefulthat markets roiled by China's limp growth prospects can besufficiently soothed. (Reporting by Arno Schuetze and Alexander Hübner; Additionalreporting by Freya Berry and Jan Schwartz; Editing by MariaSheahan)
