Western Europe

3i is among Foxtons bidders(2)

London-listed private equity firm 3i is among potential bidders for UK-based estate agency Foxtons, according to a source familiar with the situation. The interest comes three weeks after 3i’s failed Countrywide bid.

Sainsbury shares rise as buyout consortium takes pole position(2)

UK retailer Marks & Spencer has ruled out an imminent bid for supermarket chain Sainsbury, removing a major obstacle to a potential offer from the CVC-led buyout consortium eyeing the company.

APCOA sells to Eurazeo in secondary deal(2)

Investcorp, a Bahrain-based alternative assets manager, has sold APCOA, a car park operator, to Eurazeo, the French investment group in its first deal outside of France.

Hicks under attack again from the GMB(2)

The GMB trade union hopes Tom Hicks, Liverpool Football Club’s new owner and former head of Hicks Muse, will have more than European glory on his mind tonight. The union is planning to stage another protest against Hicks during the club’s European cup tie against Barcelona.

Qatar to build Sainsbury’s stake(2)

Qatar’s state investment fund is looking to build its own strategic stake in Sainsbury’s, and is not in talks with Marks & Spencer for a joint bid, as was reported at the weekend.

ABN AMRO does two deals in one day(2)

ABN AMRO Capital has bought Dutch manufacturer Vetus Den Ouden and a stake in Dutch media company Sdu on the same day. The investments are the firm’s second and third domestic deals of 2007.

Wellcome comes out fighting for industry(2)

UK medical charity Wellcome Trust has put its weight behind the industry warning that any change in the UK’s tax regime could hurt its profits which it uses to fund research.

Buyouts boost Caisse results(2)

The Quebec pension fund had a 14.6 percent return on investments last year, and experienced comparable gains for its public and private equity portfolios.

Enterprise confirms improved 3i bid(2)

Enterprise, a UK maintenance group, has confirmed that it is in discussions with 3i about a revised 605p-per-share bid, a 5 percent increase on the buyout group’s original offer.

Blackstone reaches Pinnacle(2)

The Blackstone Group’s hectic pace of deal-making shows no sign of slowing down, as the buyout group completes a $2.16 billion deal for US group Pinnacle Foods.