Guy Hands
| Guy Hands | |
|---|---|
| Born |
27 August 1959 London, UK |
| Nationality | United Kingdom |
| Education |
Mansfield College, Oxford The Judd School |
| Occupation | Private equity investor |
| Employer |
Terra Firma (2002- ) Nomura Securities (1994-2002) Goldman Sachs (1982-1994) |
| Known for | Founder of Terra Firma Capital Partners, Founder of Nomura Principal Finance Group |
Guy Hands (born 27 August 1959) is an English financier and investor. He is most notable as the founder and chairman of Terra Firma Capital Partners, one of the largest private equity firms in Europe. Hands also previously served as Chairman of the UK music company, EMI.
Hands is well known for his frequently outspoken comments about the private equity industry. In April 2009 he moved from the UK to Guernsey where Terra Firma is based.
Guy Hands was born in London to South African parents. He was educated at Holy Trinity School, Cookham, where he was diagnosed as severely dyslexic. Subsequently, he was sent to Ravenscroft Preparatory School, a special needs school, aged 9 and The Judd School, Tonbridge. More recently, Hands contributed the funds for the construction of the Guy Hands Library at the Judd School. In a Ravenscroft production of Macbeth in 1970, he played the part of Lady Macbeth opposite Christopher Newbury as Macbeth.
Hands studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Mansfield College, Oxford. At Oxford, Hands held the office of Bursar of the Oxford Union and was also President of the Oxford University Conservative Association in Michaelmas Term 1980. Hands later provided funding for construction of the Hands Building at Mansfield College.
Hands started his career in 1982 as a eurobond trader at Goldman Sachs. He was appointed Head of Eurobond trading in 1986 and later rose to become head of global asset structuring world-wide for Goldman's European division in 1990. In 1994, Hands left Goldman to found Nomura's Principal Finance Group, which focused on European private equity investments. Hands joined Nomura after three other banks, including Goldman, turned down his investment plan. At Nomura, Hands and his team completed over $20 billion of leveraged buyouts. By 2000, Hands was reported to have generated profits for the bank in excess of $1.9 billion making him a star financier in London. Hands' most notable acquisitions at Nomura included Annington Homes, as well as William Hill, the bookmaker, and Angel Trains, the UK . As well, Hands effectively became the UK's biggest pub landlord through a series of acquisitions in the 1990s.
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