Ex Gresham duo launch new PE venture

TWO former executives at private equity house Gresham have teamed up to launch a new investment business.

Andy Marsh, who ran Gresham’s Manchester office and Paul Franks, his counterpart in Birmingham, have launched Beech Tree Private Equity.

The pair have secured institutional backing from Access Capital Partners and Adam Street Partners and are now ready to hit the deals trail in the coming weeks.

The funding will give Beech Tree the firepower to invest between £40m to £50m a year. 

Marsh and Franks worked with Adam Street and Access previously at Gresham where they were responsible for a number of successful investments such as Minivator, Giles Insurance, Investis and Skelmersdale-based Hotter Shoes.

During their time at Gresham it is understood Marsh and Franks oversaw a £300m return to their investors.

The firm will be focused on investing in high growth companies in specific sectors across the UK, effectively following the successful strategy they executed at Gresham.