Major private equity firms, including The Carlyle Group, Blackstone Group (BX.N), and Bain Capital, are vying for Securitas Direct, the $3 billion-plus alarm firm, people familiar with the matter said. The trio are among at least seven takeover firms submitting indicative offers this week to EQT, the Swedish private equity firm backed by Sweden's Wallenberg family that took Securitas Direct private three years ago. Four others -- BC Partners; Clayton, Dubilier & Rice; Hellman & Friedman; and Nordic Capital -- are also bidding, some of the people said. Stanley Black & Decker (SWK.N) may also bid, one of the people added. All the private equity firms named as bidders either failed to comment or had no immediate comment. EQT, Securitas Direct and Stanley Black & Decker did not immediately respond to requests for comment. EQT hopes Securitas Direct could fetch as much as 20 billion Swedish crowns ($3.22 billion), people familiar with the matter said in April. It claims a fifth of Europe's monitored alarm market, selling security systems to homes and businesses in nine European countries.
The Blackstone Group L.P. (Blackstone) is a manager of private capital and provider of financial advisory services. Shares of BX fell by 3.01% or $-0.5518/share to $17.7682. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $8.93 and as high as $19.63. On average, 4068430 shares of BX exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 1299967.
Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. operates in three segments: Construction & Do-It-Yourself (CDIY), Security, and Industrial. Shares of SWK fell by 0.97% or $-0.73/share to $74.89. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $48.76 and as high as $78.19. On average, 1622970 shares of SWK exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 892272.
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