Graham Hutton
Founding Partner
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- Full Name
- Graham Stuart Hutton
- Title
- Founding Partner / CEO
- Firm
- Hutton Collins Partners LLP
- Firm Type
- Private equity / preferred-capital investor
- Investment Stage
- Growth capital, buyouts, acquisitions, recapitalizations, special situations, mezzanine / preferred capital
- Check Size
- Documented investment of €50 million in Dedalus Group in 2014
- Target Company Profile
- Leading UK and European middle-market businesses, often working with management teams and shareholders to finance buyouts, acquisitions, corporate development, and recapitalizations
- Sector Focus
- Leisure, media, manufacturing, business services, financial services, utilities, healthcare IT, consumer / restaurants
- Geographic Focus
- UK and Europe
- Location
- London, England, United Kingdom
Background
Graham Stuart Hutton co-founded Hutton Collins Partners LLP with Matthew Collins. Companies House records show Hutton Collins Partners LLP was incorporated on 21 December 2006 and dissolved on 2 April 2024; Graham Stuart Hutton was listed as a person with significant control and a designated member.
Before Hutton Collins, Hutton held senior roles at Morgan Grenfell. Public bios state that he was Chief Executive of Morgan Grenfell Private Equity from March 1998 to June 2001, Head of Leveraged Lending at Morgan Grenfell & Co. from 1990 to 1998, and a director in Structured Finance from 1988 to 1990. One archived profile says that under his leadership Morgan Grenfell raised a €1.5 billion European private equity fund and invested more than €1.4 billion of equity in 13 transactions.
Hutton is described as a graduate of Cambridge and Oxford Universities and is reported to speak Italian. Hutton Collins became known as a UK-based preferred-capital investor backing middle-market businesses across sectors including leisure, media, manufacturing, business services, financial services, and utilities.
Recent public references focus more on philanthropy than new investing. The Catholic Herald’s 2023 “Leading UK Catholics” list described him as a business leader and philanthropist who co-founded Hutton Collins LLP and said he now concentrates on charitable work, including prior service as Chairman of Aid to the Church in Need UK.
Investment Thesis & Focus
- Hutton Collins invested through “preferred capital,” partnering with shareholders to finance buyouts, acquisitions, corporate development, and recapitalizations.
- The firm targeted middle-market businesses in the UK and Europe rather than seed-stage startups.
- Public sector focus included leisure, media, manufacturing, business services, financial services, and utilities; portfolio activity also shows exposure to healthcare IT, restaurants, home healthcare, telecommunications, and industrial materials.
- Hutton’s own stated criteria, quoted in coverage of the Novus Leisure deal: “When investing, we look for a differentiated product, strong growth prospects and a high-performing management team.”
- The firm invested both minority and controlling capital, according to MarketScreener’s Hutton Collins profile.
Notable Investments
- Dedalus Group — Italian healthcare IT systems company; Hutton Collins agreed to invest €50 million in 2014 to support shareholder liquidity and international expansion.
- Novus Leisure — UK bar and late-night venue operator; Hutton Collins and LGV Capital backed management in a 2012 deal reported at £100 million.
- Healthcare at Home — UK provider of complex home healthcare services; Hutton Collins bought a significant minority stake from Apax Partners in 2007.
- Byron Hamburgers — UK burger restaurant chain; Hutton Collins acquired Byron in 2013 and later reduced its stake during the 2018 restructuring involving Three Hills Capital Partners.
- Wagamama — Restaurant chain backed by Duke Street and Hutton Collins; CT Private Equity Trust reported a distribution from Hutton Collins after Wagamama’s sale to The Restaurant Group.
- Caffè Nero — Coffee-house chain listed among Hutton Collins’ portfolio / recent deals by Dealroom and referenced by Hutton in connection with the firm’s leisure-sector experience.
- Vizada — Satellite communications business listed by Dealroom among Hutton Collins’ known investments; acquired by EADS Astrium in 2011.
- Everis — IT and consulting business listed by Dealroom among Hutton Collins’ known investments; acquired by NTT in 2013.
- Aquafil S.p.A. — Italian nylon / recycling materials company; CB Insights records Hutton Collins as having exited Aquafil after a multi-year partnership.
- Interfloor — Flooring products business listed by Dealroom and AngelMatch among Hutton Collins’ portfolio companies.
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