Blackstone, the private equity group, has emerged as one of the three leading bidders for Mölnlycke Health Care, the Swedish surgical and wound care equipment company that could be sold for as much as €3bn ($3.9bn).

The two other bidders understood to have reached the final stages of the auction are Clayton Dubilier & Rice, the US private equity group, and Investor, the main investment vehicle of Sweden’s powerful Wallenberg family.

According to sources close to the deal, all three have submitted final-round offers, due on Monday, that value Mölnlycke at between €2.5bn and €3bn. Deutsche Bank is advising Apax on the sale process.

Posted: 01|23|07 at 8:09 am. Filed under: UK News.