Western Europe

Blackstone tries again with Cineworld

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.

Apax France sells Parkeon for €260 million

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.

KKR lands Boots knockout blow

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.

Citi, JC Flowers to divvy up BISYS

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, CD&R in $7.1bn food distributor deal

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

Index makes millions from Last.fm exit

The founders of Index Ventures-backed internet site Last.fm have sold the business to US television network CBS for $280 million. The sale has reportedly generated a $56 million profit for Geneva-based Index Ventures.

Mezzanine Management leads £120m refinancing

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

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.

Blackstone sells Extended Stay for $8bn

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

Apax and Duke Street to duck out of Focus

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.