Doughty Hanson, one of the largest independent private equity firms in Europe, intends to focus entirely on its private equity business following the creation of a new partnership structure.
After the death of co-founder and majority shareholder Nigel Doughty in February 2012, Dick Hanson has resumed his role as head of private equity and executive chairman. He has conducted a review of the overall business to ensure it is best positioned to continue to deliver outstanding returns to the investors in its funds. As a result of this review, the firm will focus on its core business of private equity. No future funds will be raised for its real estate or technology ventures businesses.
Members of the real estate team will continue to manage Real Estate Fund II as before. Members of the technology ventures team will continue to invest Technology Ventures II and manage the Technology Ventures portfolio.
Stephen Marquardt (pictured), chief executive of Doughty Hanson, says: “We have spent considerable time speaking with our investors and reflecting on the future of the business. While we have had notable successes in both real estate and technology ventures, the real heritage of Doughty Hanson lies in its private equity business, where we have an outstanding track record. Following the creation of a partnership structure for the private equity business, today’s announcement is a logical step and in the best interests of our investors, the firm and its many stakeholders.
“We are not planning to make changes to our real estate or technology ventures teams, which will continue to manage their existing funds as before and will focus on generating returns for our investors. However, we will not be establishing any new funds in these sectors.”
