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Graphite Capital
Company typeUK LLP
IndustryPrivate Equity
PredecessorForeign & Colonial Ventures Ltd.
Founded1981
HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
Key people
Rod Richards
ProductsInvestments, private equity funds
Total assets£800 million
Websitewww.graphitecapital.com

Graphite Capital is a private equity firm focused on mid-market leveraged buyout investments, primarily in the UK. The group manages around £800 million for institutional investors, with the most recent fund raising just over £500 million.[1] Originally the fund closed on £475 million of investor commitments in September 2013. Since 1991, the firm has backed almost 100 management teams through various investments.

The firm previously housed a fund of funds platform that invested in other private equity funds across Europe and the US, which was sold to Intermediate Capital Group in February 2016.[2] The firm has managed private equity funds since 1981 and in 2001 became fully independent.

The firm has a single office at Berkeley Square House in Berkeley Square in London's West End. The firm's Managing Partner is Rod Richards, who joined in 1986.

History

Foreign & Colonial Enterprise Trust, a UK listed vehicle, was the first fund to be managed by Graphite Capital. It was established in 1981 with a £10 million initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange. The firm has raised and managed eight listed and unlisted funds to date.

Graphite was originally part of F&C Asset Management and was known as Foreign & Colonial Ventures Ltd. The firm remained a subsidiary of F&C Asset Management until 2000, when the Graphite team completed a management buyout.[3][4][5]

Investments

The firm is currently investing its eighth fund, which has backed the following companies:

- City & County Healthcare - a provider of home care services in the UK[6]

- ICR Group - a provider of repair and maintenance services to the energy sector[7]

- nGAGE Specialist Recruitment (formerly Human Capital Investment Group) - a recruitment business serving a range of niche areas within the public and private sectors[8]

- Aero Technics Group - a civil aircraft maintenance business focusing on cabin services[9]

- New World Trading Company - a pub restaurant group[10]

- Beck & Pollitzer - an industrial machinery installation and relocation specialist[11]


Graphite's seventh fund, which was raised in 2007[12] and invested until 2013, backed companies including:

- Kurt Geiger - the luxury shoe retailer and wholesaler

- Education Personnel - a provider of supply teachers and teaching assistants to state schools in the UK[13]

- Alexander Mann Solutions - a provider of recruitment process outsourcing[14]

- National Fostering Agency - an independent children's fostering agency

- London Square - a house builder focused on prime sites within the M25[15]

- Willowbrook Healthcare - a developer and operator or premium elderly care homes[16]


Graphite's current portfolio also includes:

- U-POL - a manufacturer and distributor of automotive refinishing products[17]

- Micheldever Tyre Services - a tyre wholesaler and retailer

- Explore Learning - a provider of after school tuition for children aged between 5 and 14[18]

- Hawksmoor - the operator of premium steak restaurants[19]

- Corbin & King (formerly Rex Restaurants) - the operator of signature restaurants in London[20]


Earlier investments include the Groucho Club which was sold in July 2015[21], Dominion Oil & Gas[22], NES Group[23], Wagamama[24] and Park Holidays[25].

References

  1. ^ http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/318deacc-2516-11e3-9b22-00144feab7de.html#axzz45svz71Dk
  2. ^ http://www.privateequitywire.co.uk/2015/12/24/235086/graphite-capital-sells-fund-investment-business-intermediate-capital-group
  3. ^ F&C Ventures bought out by management. Money Marketing, April 26, 2001
  4. ^ Management to buy F&C Ventures. The Telegraph, Apr 22, 2001
  5. ^ F&C Ventures becomes Graphite Capital. Investments & Pensions Europe, Apr 24, 2001
  6. ^ http://www.healthinvestor.co.uk/ShowArticle.aspx?ID=3084
  7. ^ http://www.privateequitywire.co.uk/2014/03/14/198661/graphite-capital-backs-icr-mbo
  8. ^ http://realdeals.eu.com/article/47569-graphite-backs-mbo-of-hcig
  9. ^ https://realdeals.eu.com/article/49862
  10. ^ http://www.bighospitality.co.uk/Business/Living-Ventures-New-World-Trading-Company-sold-to-Graphite-Capital
  11. ^ http://www.privateequitywire.co.uk/2016/09/20/243799/graphite-capital-acquires-industrial-installation-specialist-beck-pollitzer
  12. ^ https://www.altassets.net/private-equity-news/graphite-closes-seventh-uk-mid-market-fund-on.html
  13. ^ http://www.privateequitywire.co.uk/2014/05/12/201924/graphite-capital-sells-supply-teaching-specialist-education-personnel-icg
  14. ^ http://www.recruitment-international.co.uk/news/graphite-capital-sells-alexander-mann-solutions-for-260m-20600.htm
  15. ^ http://www.privateequitywire.co.uk/2014/07/04/206130/graphite-sells-london-square-ares-management-gbp100m
  16. ^ http://www.healthinvestor.co.uk/ShowArticle.aspx?ID=2904
  17. ^ http://www.insidermedia.com/insider/midlands/38672-graphite-capital-backs-130m-u-pol-buy-out/
  18. ^ http://www.growthbusiness.co.uk/news-and-market-deals/mergers-and-acquisitions/2117663/back-to-school-for-graphite-as-it-backs-explore-learning.thtml
  19. ^ https://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/aug/26/hawksmoor-restaurant-chain-private-equity-sale
  20. ^ http://www.growthbusiness.co.uk/news-and-market-deals/fundraising-deals/2100448/graphite-supports-rex-restaurants-expansion-plans.thtml
  21. ^ Cotterill, Joseph (18 June 2015). "Groucho Club sold by private equity firm". Financial Times. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  22. ^ http://www.growthbusiness.co.uk/news-and-market-deals/mergers-and-acquisitions/2368468/dominion-gas-sale-sees-graphite-capital-hit-four-exits-in-12-months.thtml
  23. ^ http://www.privateequitywire.co.uk/2012/10/05/174289/graphite-capital-sells-nes-global-talent
  24. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4104614.stm
  25. ^ https://www.pehub.com/2013/11/graphite-capital-sells-park-holidays-uk/


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