Martin Block joins from the Royal Bank of Scotland.
Geocapital, Apax, Advent, VCF Partners and Chase Episode 1 sign the cheques.
Bank of Scotland finances the deal.
Shares rise on the speculation.
Three groups are working on rival bids but Apax and Hicks Muse are still in front. Any deal will be one of Europe’s biggest ever LBOs.
The venture capitalist has announced a $950m fund aimed at biotech and IT, but not the internet. Institutionals on both sides of the Atlantic contributed to the fund.
Weeks after Tyne & Wear started a similar process, the UK pension fund is to tender a mandate worth up to £15m to a private equity manager.
3G LAB picks up further funding from 3i; Mergermarket gets first round and valuation jump; Screentec moves out from Bayer’s shadow; ECI gets set to buy and build in UK dental health sector; 3G Idesta picks up E10m.
The UK’s 3i looks set to be the successful bidder for Germany’s leading sparkling wine producer, Mumm Sekt, which has been put up for sale by Seagram.
The brewer intends to go it alone.