The auction for Lehman's prized asset management unit begins at noon on Wednesday, Waisman said.

In comments to reporters after a court hearing, Waisman said there were two bidders in addition to Bain Capital LLC and Hellman & Friedman LLC, which agreed on September 29 to buy the unit for $2.15 billion. The Bain and Hellman group was previously approved by the court to be the lead bidder at the auction.

(Reporting by Emily Chasan; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)