Doughty Hanson, the UK-based private equity firm, is reportedly planning to float Saft, the French industrial battery manufacturer, as early as next month valuing it at up to €900m ($1.2bn). At that price it would be one of Doughty Hanson's best-performing investments.

Saft, Doughty Hanson's first private equity investment in France, could list on the Paris stock market by the end of next month, La Tribune, the French daily, reported this morning.