Western Europe

Audax sees US-Euro vacuum success

Following a transatlantic merger in 2002, Boston’s Audax Group has agreed to sell its vacuum pump platform Nash Elmo to publicly traded Gardner Denver for $223.5m.

Deal value in EMEA region up 27 percent

Private equity deals in Europe, the Middle East and Africa have grown in size by 27 percent so far this year compared with the same period in 2003, according to a new report.

Hutton Collins, RBS recap UK noodle bars

Graphite Capital has made 5x its money on the £63m refinancing of Wagamama in a deal funded by Hutton Collins and Royal Bank of Scotland.

Report: Cinven close to cable deal

A consortium led by UK-based buyout house Cinven is reported to be in exclusive negotiations to buy the cable TV assets of France Telecom and Vivendi for €500m.

Cerberus to buy Cingular Interactive

Cerberus Capital Management, the US turnaround specialist, has agreed to buy the Blackberry network from Cingular Wireless, the second largest wireless provider in the US.

LDC tees up £40m retail deal

Lloyds Development Capital has taken a majority stake in UK-based golf equipment retailer American Golf Discount Centre in a transaction valued at £40m.

Phoenix gets into UK logistics

3i has sold its minority shareholding in UK freight distributor Palletways in a secondary buyout, realising an IRR of 72 percent in just over two years.

CSFB recaps ‘The Donald’

DLJ Merchant Banking Partners will buy a stake in Donald Trump’s hotels and casino company as it prepares for bankruptcy.

VCT consolidation beckons

The UK’s beleaguered VCT sector is facing a wave of consolidation - as well as a surge in new funds raised.

Buyers circle Saga, Westminster Health

Numerous bidders are reportedly competing to acquire Saga, the UK services provider for the over 50s, while 3i prepares to sell Westminster Health Care, the UK care provider.