The pan-European investment fund BC PARTNERS has launched a public offering for the Finnish manufacturer of bathroom accessories, SANITEC (turnover EUR 880 million in 2000). The operation gives the European leader in the sector a value of EUR 1.2 billion, including debt (EUR 300 million). BC PARTNERS has already gained control of 60.8% of the capital, bought from SANITEC's main shareholder, the Finnish engineering group WARTSILA and from its partners on the basis of EUR 14.40 per share.