Mid-market private equity investor Baird Capital Partners Europe has sold London-based recruiter Aston Carter to global rival Allegis Group netting £32.5 million from the majority stake exit.

Baird led the buy-out of Aston Carter in April 2007, investing £13 million in backing chief executive Sean Zimdahl.

At the time of the buy-out, Aston Carter was focused primarily on servicing the UK financial services market. Allegis acquired Aston Carter for £55 million.