Western Europe

Countrywide soars as 3i keeps mum(2)

Shares in the UK estate agency business are up by more than 4 percent as 3i refuses to say whether it will make a fresh bid to top US rival Apollo Management’s knockout 590p-a-share offer.

Blackstone eyes £1bn Jupiter deal(2)

Jupiter Asset Management, the Commerzbank-owned fund manager that is currently mulling its strategic options, has become the latest buyout target of The Blackstone Group.

Orlando Italy buys Sergio Tacchini ahead of debut fund close(2)

Orlando Italy, an offshoot of the German turnaround specialist set to close a debut €200 million fund, has bought troubled Italian sports label Sergio Tacchini.

Hg completes exit from Hirschmann(2)

HgCapital has completed its exit from the Hirschmann Group, selling the car communication division to management for an undisclosed sum.

Apax makes it three big exits with CBR sale(2)

Apax Partners has continued its string of recent exit successes by selling CBR, a German fashion retailer it co-owned with Cinven, to Swedish buyout firm EQT.

Blackstone waxes profitable about Tussauds(2)

Fresh from its $39 billion take-private of Equity Office Properties, Blackstone becomes the world’s second largest operator of tourist attractions and theme parks with a £1 billion deal to buy The Tussauds Group.

Duke Street set to make it second time lucky for Burton’s(2)

Duke Street Capital has edged ahead of other trade and financial buyers as it tries for a second time to buy Burton’s Foods, a snack maker valued at about £200 million.

Chrysalis tackles Rhino Rugby(2)

Rhino Rugby, the sports equipment maker backed by England’s World Cup-winning rugby captain Martin Johnson, has sold a 6.25 percent stake to Chrysalis VCT.

Hg buys Bench for global expansion(2)

HgCapital’s consumer team has completed its deal in three months, buying UK fashion retailer Americana International for £190 million.

KCPC Holdings to acquire parking company(2)

The affiliate of Kohlberg & Company and Chrysalis Capital Partners has agreed to buy parking and transportation services company Chrysalis Capital Partners.