European buy-out firm Candover has invested an estimated £54m (€80.4m) in Wood Mackenzie, the Edinburgh-based energy and life sciences research firm. Candover would not confirm the figure or the size of the stake.

However, it said that the stake makes its €2.7bn ($3.3bn) Candover 2001 Fund 81% invested, up from its previous 78%. This suggests it has spent about €81m, or £54m, on Wood Mac.