London: December 2017
Bay Tree Private Equity launched in London with a focus on investing in entrepreneurial UK businesses and supporting management teams with more than capital alone.
The founding team brought together operating, banking and private equity experience. Ed Cottrell joined from Investec, David Wingfield from Rutland Partners and Tony Wheble brought senior operating experience including James Villa Holidays.
At launch, Bay Tree said it would support owner transitions, management buyouts and growth capital investments in UK companies, combining investment judgement, operational perspective and financing experience.
Keith Butler-Wheelhouse and Kenton Fine joined as Advisory Partners, adding further senior operating experience to the firm.
The launch reflected Bay Tree’s original ambition to create an entrepreneurial investment business in which the people assessing an opportunity remained closely involved with the management team.