International direct investment firm OceanBridge Partners is expanding in both the US and in Europe where it has opened a new London office.
Simultaneously it has appointed new partners to join the founders in order to take advantage of the investment opportunities which are now emerging.
OceanBridge has adopted a new approach to private equity by offering an innovative way to make direct investments outside the rigid framework of a conventional fund structure.
OceanBridge was conceived out of the recognition that the conventional private equity model may have limited appeal for certain types of investors. Typically, these investors are reluctant to commit significant capital to a fund in which they have little or no influence on key decisions, where capital is tied up for 10 years or more; where investment decisions are affected by fund raising timing; and where management fees absorb a significant part of the overall return. The OceanBridge model is designed to be more flexible, cost-effective, transparent and completely aligns the interests of managers with the providers of capital.
OceanBridge, founded in late 2011, has enjoyed a strong first year. During 2012 OceanBridge Partners supported Mayhoola Group of Qatar on its acquisition of Valentino, the luxury fashion business. OceanBridge also led and co-invested with partners on the purchase of The Henry Company in the US from its New York office.
The founding partners of OceanBridge are Michael Dugan, a former partner of Blackstone, Martin Clarke (pictured), a former partner and global head of consumer at Permira, and Philippe Robert, a former partner and head of the Paris office for Permira. They are working with several newly-appointed partners, including Bob MacKenzie and Nick Hewitt who together add substantial additional management and investment expertise.
The expanded team will become the core of OceanBridge’s international offering, servicing the investment needs of investors drawn from sovereign wealth and international pension funds, family offices and very high net worth individuals.
