European Regulators Approve $560 million Collection Agency Buyout

Antitrust regulators at the European Union have approved a deal that will see one of Europe’s largest accounts receivable management firms sell a 50 percent stake in its business to a private equity investor.

Oslo, Norway-based Lindorff Group announced last month that its current private equity owner, Altor Equity Partners, had agreed to sell a 50 percent stake in the ARM firm to another private equity firm, Investor AB, for $560 million.

The European Commission, the branch of the EU that reviews cross-border M&A transactions, gave a deadline of July 16 to review the buyout ("Regulators to Review $560 million Lindorff Deal by July 16," June 18). True to its word, the body announced Wednesday that it had approved the transaction through a simplified merger review procedure used for cases the Commission believes do not pose competition concerns.

One of the largest ARM firms in Europe, Lindorff reported revenues of $542 million in 2007.

Once the deal is consummated, Altor and Investor AB said they would form a partnership, with each owning a 50 percent stake in Lindorff.