Childcare firm Britax up for sale

US private equity firm Carlyle, which bought Britax for 230m in 2005, has asked investment bank Rothschild to advise on its options after approaches from potential trade and financial bidders, The Financial Times said.

With well-known brands including Romer and Safe 'n' Sound, the Chertsey-based company has grown rapidly, from sales of 120m in the year before Carlyle bought the business to turnover of 183m in 2008.

It has benefited from regulations requiring the use of child safety seats, especially in its emerging markets.

In the European Union, all children must use a car safety seat or booster seat until they are 12 years old, unless they are taller than 135cm (4ft 5in).

The company, which employs about 1,000 people, has manufacturing bases in North America, Australia, Germany and the UK.