3i has fought off competition from two rivals specialising in mid-market buyouts to take control of Euro Druckservice, a central and eastern European network of printing plants. The value of the deal was not disclosed but sources suggest it to be about €210m ($280m).

The UK-listed private equity firm beat Mid-Europa Partners and Industri Kapital to secure the deal, which marked the first investment for 3i's new taskforce focusing on the region.