It’s official: Barclays has sold the iShares exchange traded funds (ETFs) line to a private-equity firm.

CVC Capital Partners Group has purchased Barclays’ successful line of iShares ETFs, reports Jane Wardell for the Associated Press. The sale was for $4.4 billion, and Barclays is financing $3.1 billion of the purchase price. The British bank also will be entitled to receive 20% of the equity return from iShares once CVC has achieved certain minimum returns.

The sale will boost Barclays’ capital after it declined a spot in the government’s program to insure toxic assets.

Under the agreement is a stipulation that Barclays can continue to solicit bids for iShares and related businesses for at least 45 business days from April 15.

I’d expect that there will be no hiccups in this transition, and there should be no concern on the part of shareholders as the move takes place. iShares will continue to be a successful and popular line of ETFs.