Revenues at French private equity firm Wendel Investissement hit just over €5bn ($6.5bn) in 2006, driven by an increase of 11% in sales as recent acquisitions, including the first overseas buyout of US haulage company Deutsch, made themselves felt on the company's bottom line.

In addition to Deutsch, which reported a 9% increase in net sales to €437.3m, Wendel also bought French building materials group Materis in April for €1bn from owner LBO France.