Our business
Experience and outlook
Doughty Hanson & Co FZE is an active investment company and the direct successor to the Doughty Hanson companies, including DH Private Equity Partners. The business, name, brand and corporate history were transferred in full through a comprehensive asset deal. Today, the company carries this experience forward with a long-term focus on private markets and emerging opportunities.
The Doughty Hanson name traces its investment history to a private equity business founded in 1985. Over more than three decades and six funds, former Doughty Hanson entities invested in more than 60 companies across a range of sectors. Those entities developed experience in acquiring and growing market-leading businesses, including family-owned businesses, which represented almost half of the investments described in the historical record.
The Doughty Hanson investment heritage is built on a consistent and disciplined approach across several economic cycles, with a focus on controlling interests in market-leading Northern European businesses with enterprise values between €200 million and €600 million. The historical performance referenced on this website forms part of the corporate history acquired by Doughty Hanson & Co FZE. The figures relate to the relevant entities or funds and the respective reporting periods.
As part of that historical strategy, a dedicated active-ownership and value-enhancement team was established in 2002. Its work with portfolio-company management included measures intended to increase sales, improve margins, reduce costs, strengthen cash flow and manage risk. This established investment approach forms part of the corporate history acquired by Doughty Hanson & Co FZE and continues to inform its disciplined, long-term perspective.
The Doughty Hanson investment approach incorporates responsible-investment considerations and a conservative approach to leverage. A number of former portfolio companies subsequently became listed companies or divisions of larger international groups. These outcomes demonstrate the experience and value-creation capabilities behind the Doughty Hanson name.
The principal historical strategy comprised mid-market European private equity buyout funds. Former Doughty Hanson entities also managed opportunistic European real-estate funds and early-stage European technology venture-capital funds. In February 2013, it was announced that no further Real Estate or Technology Venture funds would be raised. This broad investment experience provides a strong foundation for Doughty Hanson & Co FZE as it invests in what comes next.