Duke Capital Partners

Duke Capital is a leading provider of hybrid capital solutions for small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) business owners across the UK, Europe, and North America. The firm's unique offering combines features of both equity and debt, providing long-term financing that aims to eliminate refinancing risk and the necessity for short-term exits. Their 'corporate mortgage' product is designed to align returns with the success of the businesses they support, while allowing owners to retain control.

The firm originated as Duke Royalty, which was admitted to AIM in 2017. Its founders, Neil Johnson and Charlie Cannon Brookes, established the company in 2015 with the mission to introduce an innovative direct lending model to the lower mid-market in the UK. In 2024, Duke Royalty rebranded to Duke Capital, a change that provides the team with greater flexibility to pursue growth while upholding its core values of capital preservation, attractive dividend yield, and providing upside upon exits.

Duke Capital supports various corporate events, including management buyouts (MBOs), buy-and-build strategies, shareholder restructurings, and debt refinancings. Notable partners and portfolio companies include United Glass Group, where Duke facilitated a shareholder restructuring and provided capital for M&A; Fabrikat, which utilized Duke's capital for a management buyout; and Tristone Healthcare, with whom Duke collaborates on M&A opportunities as part of a buy-and-build strategy.

The firm is led by a highly experienced team, including Neil Johnson, the Executive Director and CEO, who brings over 30 years of experience in capital markets, and Charles (Charlie) Cannon Brookes, the Executive Director and CIO, with over 20 years of investment expertise. The team also includes Hugo Evans as CFO and several principals with extensive private equity and private credit backgrounds, ensuring a rigorous investment process and strong due diligence.