Four private equity firms are set to fight it out for Sweden’s Bravida, worth around $1 billion, writes Reuters. Sources familiar with the matter said EQT, Apax Partners, Bain Capital and PAI Partners have proceeded into the second round of bids for the installation services firm, owned by private equity group Triton. Reuters – At [...]

Blackstone Group and PAI Partners, the private equity owners of UK-based United Biscuits have appointed Credit Suisse to split the food company’s salty snack business from its other operations, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, writes Reuters. The buyout firms had in 2010 attempted to sell the company for 2 billion pounds ($3.13 billion), [...]

France is challenging the UK as the leader in European buyouts, with 129 deals worth €14 billion last year, says a new report.

PAI Partners is planning to raise a new 3 billion euro ($3.81 billion) buyout fund this year, Reuters reported. The new fund represents a potential comeback for the French buyout fund, which ousted its management 18 months ago and cut in half its fifth buyout fund, Reuters wrote. Meetings with investors will reportedly begin in March.

Buyout firm PAI Partners is selling a 25.7% stake in Danish food ingredients maker Chr. Hansen for roughly 560 million euros ($715.56 million), Reuters reported Wednesday. The buyer is Novo A/S.

IK Investment Partners‘ sale of German outdoor sport surface maker Sport Group is in limbo as private equity firms reconsider bids for the company, Reuters reported Wednesday. Bankers are concerned that Sport Group’s earnings could drop as the company is exposed to falling public spending, Reuters wrote. EQT, Nordic Capital and PAI Partners have been interested in the company, which had a price tag of around 200 to 250 million euros. Nordic Capital has already pulled out of the process.

Blackstone and PAI Partners, which are looking to exit their investments in United Biscuits, may break up the business, Reuters reported, citing news in the Sunday Times. United Biscuits makes Hula Hoops and Jaffa Cakes. The two private equity firms plan to begin talks about selling United Biscuits at the end of the year.

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Buyout shop BC Partners will buy Italian clothing retailer Gruppo Coin in a deal valuing the company at 930 million euros ($1.34 billion), Reuters reported. The firm will acquire 78.7% of Gruppo Coin, buying a large part of its a stake from PAI Partners, Reuters said. PAI Partners currently owns 69.3% of Coin.

New York-based J.C. Flowers won a bid to enter exclusive talks to buy Compagnie Europeene de Prevoyance, Reuters reported. Compagnie Europeene de Prevoyance is a French loan insurance broker. Financial terms were not disclosed. However, a source familiar with the matter said the deal with French private equity firm PAI Partners valued the company at more than 800 million euros ($1.16 billion).