Thomas H Lee Partners, the private equity firm that is fundraising for its sixth fund, and Quadrangle Group, an alternative investment company specialising in media and communications, have bought West Corp, a call centre manager, for $4.1bn (€3.1bn).

Lehman Brothers and Deutsche Bank are financial advisers to the private equity firms and the two banks, together with Bank of America, are providing debt financing for the deal. Ropes and Gray is legal adviser with David Chapin, Patrick Diaz, Jay Kim and Shari Wolkon as partners on the transaction.