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Candover to sell Bureau van Dijk Electronic Publishing to BC Partners23/07/2007. Source: AltAssets. 
 European buy-out firm Candover has agreed to sell Bureau van Dijk Electronic Publishing, an electronic publisher of business information, to BC Partners. The sale represents a return of 2.3 times Candover's original investment and an IRR of approximately 35 per cent, the firm announced.
The value of the transaction was not disclosed but several sources said that it was probably in the €700m+ area.
BvD EP is a specialist provider of electronic business and financial information. Data supplied includes ownership and directorship information, company activities and latest news. Customers include financial and consulting organisations, corporates, governments and research institutes. The company has approximately 380 employees across 25 offices worldwide.
Candover led the MBO of BvD EP in November 2004. The firm invested in the publishing house from its Candover 2001 Fund. Out of its 16 investments, the Candover 2001 Fund has now fully realised five investments and partially realised a further six, according to a statement.
Brian Mercer, director of Candover, said, 'BvD EP has been a great investment for Candover, providing a return of 2.3 times our investment. Under our ownership, the business has increased sales by 53 per cent and profits by 59 per cent during the last two and half years. The management team, led by Bernard van Ommeslaghe and Dominique Carnoy, has driven the growth by expanding BvD EP's product range and developing into new territories. This strategy has led BvD EP to become one of the world's leading electronic publishers.'
Candover closed its €3.5bn Candover 2005 Fund in November 2005.
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