Ethos Private Equity has tabled a bid for a South African distributor of car tyres and wheels, pushing the value of announced buyouts in the country to $5.2bn (€3.5bn) this year, almost two-thirds more than last year's record total.

Ethos, one of South Africa's biggest buyout investors, has bid $162m for local car wheel wholesaler Tiger Automotive. The buyout would be the country's fifth largest this year, according to data provider Dealogic.