Western Europe

Apax France sells Parkeon for €260 million(2)

Apax France, the French affiliate of Apax Partners, has sold Parkeon to Barclays Private Equity after making the business profitable and expanding into the US.

VSS makes first Spanish investment(2)

US media and communications specialist Veronis Suhler Stevenson is buying a minority stake in Zed, a leading Spanish mobile content provider valued at about €400 million. It is the firm’s first investment in the country.

CVC looks to Altadis(2)

CVC Capital Partners is reportedly looking to bounce back from the disappointment of losing out in the battle for Sainsbury’s by turning its attentions to Altadis, a Spanish tobacco company.

Blackstone tries again with Cineworld(2)

The Blackstone Group will this week make its third attempt to float Cineworld, a UK cinema group expected to be valued at about £240 million. The buyout firm has already cancelled two previous public offerings because of adverse market conditions.

Citi, JC Flowers to divvy up BISYS(2)

BISYS, a provider of outsourcing solutions for the investment and insurance industries, is set to be acquired by Citi for $1.5 billion; it will then sell two BISYS divisions to JC Flowers.

KKR lands Boots knockout blow(2)

Kohlberg Kravis Roberts has struck a knockout blow in the battle for UK health and beauty chain Alliance Boots this morning, after sweetening its bid to £11 billion and increasing the stake it controls to about 25 percent.

KKR, CD&R in $7.1bn food distributor deal(2)

Dutch retail giant Royal Ahold has agreed to sell its food distribution company, US Foodservice, to KKR and CD&R for $7.1 billion.

Countrywide backs Apollo bid(2)

Shareholders in Countrywide, a UK estate agency, voted overwhelmingly in favour of Apollo Management’s £1.05 billion offer today. The US buyout firm had been forced to sweeten its bid yesterday to fend off an eleventh hour approach from an unnamed suitor – reportedly UK group 3i.

Mezzanine Management leads £120m refinancing(2)

Mezzanine Management has led the £120 million refinancing of The Regard Partnership, a residential care group, as the mezzanine specialist continues to focus on more self-sponsored deals.

BA approaches buyout firms for Iberia bid(2)

British Airways, Europe’s third largest airline, has confirmed that it has approached a number of private equity firms about a possible joint bid for Iberia, the Spanish airline in which it holds a 10 percent stake.