Buyout houses rev up for CVC’s motorbike business

Buyout firms Advent International, Apax Partners and Permira are all considering bids for Dorna, the Spanish motorbike racing rights business that runs MotoGP around the world, according to a banker familiar with the auction .

He said CVC Capital Partners, a UK-based buyout firm, was looking to sell the business, in which it has a 75% stake, for about €600m. He said there was no obvious strategic buyer.

However, a rival banker said there are several Spanish TV networks that might have an interest in acquiring Dorna, including Antena 3 TV, Cuatro, Television Espanola and Telecinco.

CVC is required to sell the motorbike unit by the European Commission because of its recent acquisition of SLEC, a company that manages the re-transmission rights to Formula One.