A private equity fund controlled by the Brenninkmeijer family, the owners of Dutch clothing retailer C&A, has bought a blocking stake in German solar technology company Q-Cells, eight months after it raised €270m ($323m) from an initial public offering.

Good Energies Investments, the Brenninkmeijer vehicle, yesterday increased its holding in Q-Cells from 16.39% to 25.96% at a price "much higher than the current price on the stock exchange," according to a statement issued by the company.