Bahrain's Investcorp sells IPH to European private equity firm

Bahrain-based investment manager Investcorp has completed the sale of industrial supplies distributor IPH Group to a Paris-based European private equity firm, PAI Partners, the company said on Monday.

The deal generated more than €210 million of realisation proceeds for Investcorp and its clients, a company statement said.

Investcorp has been selling assets and making new investments as financial markets recover from the twin blows of the Arab Spring uprisings and the global financial crisis.

IPH Group tripled sales to €860m and grew Ebitda (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) to over €62m in 2012 from €12m during the period of ownership by Investcorp.

Last month, Investcorp bought a controlling stake in Scotland-based oil field services provider Hydrasun, taking its US$1 billion Gulf Opportunity Fund closer to full deployment.

The company also sold truck and trailer parts distributor FleetPride to private equity firm TPG for over $1bn.

Investcorp, which previously took public luxury brands Gucci and Tiffany & Co, had $11.5bn in assets under management as of June 30, 2012.

* Reuters