PE firms eye up media company

Darwin Private Equity, Bowmark Capital and Lloyds Development Capital are in talks with Aim-listed Shed Media, the independent producer behind Supernanny and Waterloo Road, for a possible buyout.

Speculation regarding a possible takeover has seen Shed Media’s share price hit an annual week high of 80.5p in trading by mid-August. In 2008, Shed reported pre-tax profits of £11.9m.

Last year Shed was also the subject of a takeover by a management buy-out consortium led by co-founder Eileen Gallagher. However, the offer was turned down by Shed’s board of directors.