Financial Times Spotlights Hg's Two-Decade Journey in European Software Investment

The Financial Times recently featured an in-depth profile of Hg, examining the strategic decisions that transformed us into Europe's largest software-focused private equity firm and the second largest globally in a sector traditionally dominated by American investors.

In conversation with the FT's Alexandra Heal, Senior Partner Nic Humphries reflected on 25 years of evolution, emphasizing a core philosophy that has guided our success: "Think in decades, not quarters."

Key Strategic Milestones

The article highlights several pivotal moments in Hg's development, particularly our 2007 decision to specialize exclusively in software investment. This strategic focus proved prescient, positioning us to capitalize on the consistent growth in B2B software demand across market cycles and the emerging opportunities in AI-driven workplace automation.

As Humphries notes: "We have a culture and strategy that positions us at the heart of technology-driven workplace transformation. That's what makes the next 25 years just as exciting as the last."

Building Ecosystems, Not Just Returns

Our scale as Europe's largest software-focused PE firm enables more than just financial returns. Over the past five years alone, our portfolio companies have created tens of thousands of knowledge economy jobs across the UK and Europe. This reflects our belief that when you think in decades, you don't just generate returns—you help build entire ecosystems.

The FT analysis captures key industry inflection points, including the rise of sector-focused funds, the critical importance of operational expertise, and how European software companies now compete successfully on the global stage.

What This Means for Our Wealth Clients

This Financial Times recognition underscores the strength and maturity of Hg's investment approach, which directly benefits our wealth management clients. Our two-decade track record in software investing, combined with our position as Europe's market leader, provides our clients with access to a proven investment strategy in one of the economy's most dynamic and resilient sectors.

Our long-term perspective—thinking in decades rather than quarters—aligns perfectly with wealth preservation and growth objectives. As AI and workplace automation create new investment opportunities, our deep sector expertise and established market position enable us to identify and capitalize on these trends for our clients' benefit. The ecosystem approach we've developed doesn't just generate returns; it creates sustainable value that compounds over time, making it an attractive component of a diversified wealth portfolio.

Read the full Financial Times article: https://www.ft.com/content/6043f273-6dae-4772-8589-6a7ce180ce6e