Doughty Hanson, the UK mid-market private equity group, has beaten three rival buyout firms to buy Dutch accountancy company TMF for €750m ($1.2bn) in one of a few large deals in the European mid-market this year.

The company faced Hellman and Friedman, General Atlantic and 3i to buy a majority stake in the Dutch company from Silverfleet Capital according to numerous sources close to the deal. General Atlantic declined to comment. Hellman and Friedman and 3i were unavailable for comment.