3i, the UK-listed private equity firm, has completed a €595m ($710m) credit facility to boost its investment capital.

The five-year facility is the first 3i has arranged since 1997, when it put in place a £625m (€900m) facility. Barclays Bank, Bayerische Landesbank, Commerzbank, Danske Bank, Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein, Lloyds TSB and the Royal Bank of Scotland each made commitments of €85m to the facility.