FT-Private equity shows its characters

” The founder of Character World, a maker and distributor of branded textiles such as duvet sets, owes much to investment from private equity groups.

Textile buyer Tommy Schweiger and his son Danny started the company in a bedroom in Wilmslow in 1998.

Mr Schweiger spotted an opportunity to supply shops with popular characters. “We approached a licensing company about Spider-Man and ended up with Star Wars, just as the prequel trilogy was coming out,” he said.

Almost a decade later, the company had secured the rights for Bob the Builder, Thomas the Tank Engine, Peppa Pig and the Disney portfolio. Danny’s brother Mark joined as finance director and a US trade buyer approached them.”

By Andrew Bounds, Financial Times

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Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010.