Private equity baron Hands eyes voyage with Boatfolk marinas

The backstage equity steadfast founded by Guy Hands is plotting a takeover of Boatfolk, 1 of the UK’s biggest autarkic marina owners.

Sky News has learnt that Terra Firma Capital Partners, the buyout store present tally by Mr Hands' son, Richard, is among the remaining suitors for Boatfolk, which has been exploring a merchantability for respective months.

The elder Mr Hands retired from his full-time roles astatine Terra Firma 2 years ago, having built it implicit respective decades into 1 of Britain's astir salient backstage equity groups.

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Among its investments - immoderate of which turned retired to beryllium financially and reputationally notorious - were the euphony institution EMI, the attraction homes relation Four Seasons Health Care and Annington Homes, the erstwhile proprietor of thousands of Ministry of Defence homes.

More recently, it has focused connected managing Mr Hands' family's money, though it does inactive person immoderate outer investors.

Its involvement successful Boatfolk is unsurprising, fixed the company's underlying spot portfolio.

Owned by Mansford, a prolific capitalist successful existent property assets, Boatfolk owns marinas astatine East Cowes connected the Isle of Wight, Weymouth successful Dorset and Royal Quays successful North Shields.

Its portfolio comprises 11 sites successful total.

The identities of different bidders for Boatfolk was unclear connected Friday, though manufacture sources speculated that Crestline, an concern firm, could beryllium among them.

The Boatfolk auction is being handled by CBRE, the spot agent.

A spokesperson for Terra Firma declined to comment.