VNU, the Dutch publisher, was close to agreeing a €320m-plus sale of a group of European business magazines, websites and trade shows to 3i, the private equity group.

3i declined to comment but it is thought to have been one of the few bidders in an auction conducted by Goldman Sachs and The van Tulleken Company that was willing to buy the entire portfolio. VNU’s European assets include UK trade magazines such as Computing and Accountancy Age, and events such as the Holland Art Fair.