Ian Moore, a partner of mid-market private equity firm CBPE Capital, is rather sorry to see one of his portfolio companies go, even though it made the firm a whole lot of money in a very short space of time.

The business was Côte Restaurants, the French-style chain. CBPE managed to nearly triple its money on the deal when it sold the business to London-based private equity firm BC Partners in July for £250 million after less than two years of ownership. Most private equity firms would be happy doubling their money after five years of ownership.