Duke Street Capital Company Profile and Portfolio

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Duke Street Capital is a leading private equity firm that has been in operation since 1984. They have a strong presence in the UK and Europe, with a focus on investing in mid-sized companies.

Their investment approach is centered around partnering with management teams to drive growth and improvement in their portfolio companies. This approach has led to significant returns for their investors.

Duke Street Capital has a diverse portfolio of companies across various sectors, including healthcare, consumer, and industrials.

About the Company

Duke Street Capital is a private equity firm that has been around since 1988. They have a strong track record of investing in businesses across various sectors, including consumer, industrials, and services.

Their team of experienced investors and professionals has a deep understanding of the industries they invest in, which helps them identify opportunities for growth and value creation.

Duke Street Capital is headquartered in London, UK, and has a significant presence in Europe.

What Is the Operating Partner?

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Thierry Paternot is the Operating Partner of Duke Street Capital. He plays a crucial role in the company's operations.

Duke Street Capital has an Operating Partner in place, which suggests a collaborative and hands-on approach to management.

Thierry Paternot's experience and expertise are likely valuable assets to the company.

History

Duke Street Capital was founded in 1988 as Hambro European Ventures, the private equity investment arm of Hambros Bank.

The firm's early days were marked by a spinout from Hambros in 1998, following the bank's sale to Société Générale, and a name change to Duke Street Capital Management Services.

In 2008, the firm changed its name to Duke Street Management Services, a move that reflected its growing independence.

Duke Street has raised approximately £2.6 billion since inception across six private equity investment funds.

The firm's managing partners are Charlie Troup and James Almond, who have been instrumental in shaping the company's investment strategy.

Here are some of the notable investments made by Duke Street:

  • Gala Bingo
  • Equity Insurance Group
  • Burton's Foods
  • Esporta Health Clubs
  • Getty Images
  • The Original Factory Shop
  • LM Funerals
  • Marie Brizard
  • Megabowl Oasis
  • Great Mills
  • Payzone

In 2011, Duke Street, along with Hutton Collins, acquired the noodle restaurant chain Wagamama for £215 million from Lion Capital.

Investments and Acquisitions

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Duke Street Investments has made a significant impact with 12 investments, including their latest investment in Ardent Hire Solutions as part of their Seed on January 01, 2015.

Duke Street has also been active in acquisitions, with a total of 43 companies acquired. Their latest acquisition was FORLIFE on December 02, 2024, valuing at $XXM.

Here are some key acquisitions made by Duke Street:

Duke Street's acquisition strategy has been focused on companies with high valuations, with all of their recent acquisitions valued at $XXM.

Original Factory Shop

Original Factory Shop has been sold to private equity giant Duke Street Capital for £70 million, a significant increase from the £18.5 million Barclays Private Equity paid for a 70% stake three years ago.

The retailer has 84 stores in smaller towns selling discount household goods, toys, electricals, and clothing. Original Factory Shop's expansion plans are expected to accelerate under the new owner.

In the six months to September 30, the retailer's profits climbed 15.9% on total sales up 15.6%. Its like-for-likes rose by 4.8% over the period.

About 80% of people who visit Original Factory Shop buy something, according to CEO George Foster, who says their format is working well with a wide range of products.

Investments

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Duke Street Investments has made a total of 12 investments. Their latest investment was in Ardent Hire Solutions as part of their Seed on January 1, 2015.

Duke Street's investments span a range of industries, with their latest investment being in Ardent Hire Solutions.

Duke Street has invested in companies such as FORLIFE, AGITO Medical, and Suir Engineering. Their investments have been valued in the millions, with exact figures not disclosed.

Here are some key statistics on Duke Street's investments:

Duke Street's investments have been valued in the millions, with exact figures not disclosed.

Headway Invests in Suir Engineering

Headway Capital Partners has partnered with Duke Street on their investment in Suir Engineering, a provider of innovative mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation engineering solutions across Europe.

Duke Street has acquired Suir Engineering from EDF Energy Services, a joint venture between the French energy group EDF and Dalkia, an energy services and facilities management subsidiary.

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Suir Engineering has close to four decades of engineering expertise in its core sectors of life sciences, renewable power, and technology.

The company employs more than 1,200 people and has offices in Dublin, Waterford, Stockholm, Copenhagen, and Frankfurt.

Suir supports 320 apprentices at any one time and has a strong track record for retaining staff, thanks to its continued investment in professional development.

Duke Street's investment team has previous experience in industrial services and Suir's underlying sectors, making them a great fit for Suir's growth strategy.

Michael Kennedy, Managing Director of Suir Engineering, is looking forward to partnering with Duke Street to accelerate the company's growth and expand its business proposition.

With Duke Street's support, Suir aims to consolidate its position as a leader in the provision of mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation engineering services.

Funds and Exits

Duke Street has a significant track record of portfolio exits, with 20 notable exits to date. The latest exit was Voyage Care, which was acquired by Wren House on January 14, 2022, for an undisclosed valuation.

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The company has also had a number of successful fund closures, with 16 funds in total. One notable example is Duke Street Fund VI, which closed on June 28, 2007, with a valuation of $1.15 billion.

Here are the details of Duke Street's 20 portfolio exits:

20 Portfolio Exits

Duke Street has a total of 20 portfolio exits, with their latest exit being the acquisition of Voyage Care on January 14, 2022.

The acquisition was valued at $XXM and was acquired by Wren House.

One of Duke Street's earlier exits was the merger of TeamSport Karting with eHi Car Services on April 8, 2019, also valued at $XXM.

Duke Street has also had exits in the form of acquisitions and divestitures, with Baywater Healthcare being acquired by Bastide Group on December 13, 2017, for $XXM.

Here are the details of Duke Street's 20 portfolio exits:

16 Fund Histories

Duke Street has a total of 16 funds, including Duke Street Fund VI.

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One of their notable funds, Duke Street Fund VI, closed on June 28, 2007, with a fund type of Diversified Private Equity and a status of Closed.

The fund had a significant amount of $1,154.02 million.

Duke Street also managed Duchess III, a fund that closed on August 2, 2004, with a fund type of Diversified Private Equity and a status of Closed.

This fund had a substantial amount of $548.96 million.

Here's a list of some of their notable funds:

It's worth noting that some of their funds have a "Subscribe to see more" status, indicating that more information may be available upon subscription.

Team and Partners

At Duke Street Capital, a strong network of team members and partners is crucial to their success. They have a team of experienced professionals with a proven track record in private equity.

Their team includes individuals with expertise in various areas such as operations, finance, and strategy. This diverse skill set allows them to tackle complex challenges and make informed investment decisions.

Duke Street Capital partners with other companies to drive growth and create value. They have a collaborative approach, working closely with management teams to achieve shared goals.

Team

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Our team at Duke Street is made up of 6 members, including a former Chief Executive Officer.

Ian Hazelton, a seasoned executive, was previously the CEO, bringing his expertise to the team.

The team has a strong foundation with 6 members working together to achieve their goals.

Compare Competitors

Duke Street Capital's competitors include Permira, a European private equity firm with a strong track record of investing in consumer and retail businesses.

Duke Street Capital's focus on the UK and Ireland market is a key differentiator from competitors like KKR, which has a broader global reach.

Duke Street Capital's investment strategy is centered around supporting entrepreneurial businesses, unlike Apax Partners, which tends to focus on larger, more established companies.

Duke Street Capital's portfolio companies are often characterized by their strong management teams and growth potential, traits that are also found in companies backed by CVC Capital Partners.

Bertha Hoeger

Junior Writer

Bertha Hoeger is a versatile writer with a keen interest in financial institutions and community development. Her work primarily focuses on banking and microfinance sectors, providing insightful analyses of various Indian financial entities and organizations. She has covered a range of topics, from banks based in Maharashtra and those established in 2019 to private sector banks and microfinance companies.

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