Private equity investor 3i (London / UK; www.3i.com), has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Geka (Bechhofen / Germany; www.geka-world.com), a manufacturer of brushes, applicators and packaging systems for the cosmetics industry. The acquisition price for Geka, which is being sold by German investor Halder (Frankfurt; www.halder.eu), has not been disclosed, although 3i did say it would grow Geka's international business, particulary in China and Brazil.

Geka runs production facilities in Bechhofen / Germany and Elgin, Illinois / USA with an additional sales office in France. The packaging manufacturer, which is a development partner of international cosmetics groups such as Procter & Gamble (P&G, Cincinnati, Ohio / USA; www.pg.com) and Avon (New York / USA; www.avon.com), employs 650 workers globally and generated revenues of about EUR 100m in 2011.