Western Europe

Blackstone sells Extended Stay for $8bn(2)

The real estate arm of The Blackstone Group has sold off its Extended Stay Hotels chain to The Lightstone Group for $8 billion.

Blackstone opens doors to Cineworld(2)

The Blackstone Group has completed the twice-delayed flotation of UK cinema chain Cineworld, as the group’s shares, reported to be three times oversubscribed, proved attractive to investors,.

Terra Firma realises £200m from Threshers deal(2)

Buyout firm Terra Firm has realised £200 million from the sale-and-leaseback of some of the property estate of UK off-licence chain Threshers.

Apax and Duke Street to duck out of Focus(2)

Buyout firms Apax Partners and Duke Street Capital are reported to be making a troubled exit from Focus DIY as Apollo Management is called in for a distressed debt transaction.

Natural Gas to buy power businesses for $636m(2)

Energy-focused Natural Gas Partners is set to acquire the power production and development businesses of MDU Resources Group for $636 million.

Bridgepoint buys European dialysis group(2)

EQT and Investor make a quick return on their €4.3 billiion acquisition of medical technology group Gambro, selling Gambro Healthcare to mid-market rival Bridgepoint less than a year after acquisition

Apollo triumphs in £1.1 billion Countrywide bid battle(2)

US buyout firm Apollo Management has secured UK property firm Countrywide with help from the hedge fund Polygon, after frantic eleventh hour negotiations which saw two consecutive revised bids from Apollo.

Wellington Partners invests in media start up(2)

Adconion Media, a German online advertising network, has received a commitment from Wellington Partners, a pan-European venture capital firm, of an undisclosed amount.

Buyout firms’ €12.8bn Altadis bid raises the stakes(2)

European buyout firms CVC and PAI’s €12.8 billion bid for Spanish tobacco company Altadis surpasses Imperial Tobacco’s rival offer last month and could trigger a bidding war.

CVC admits defeat on Sainsbury bid(2)

The Sainsbury family seems to have triumphed in its bid to keep the UK retailer out of private equity hands, after the last remaining members of the buyout consortium admitted defeat in their battle to take the company private.