Duke Street opens in France

Duke Street has opened a Paris office. Frédéric Chauffier, managing director of Duke Street’s French activities, will run the office with an expanded team. Boris Zaïtra joined Duke Street in 1999 from JP Morgan, where he worked in the M&A department in London and Paris. He was appointed director in January 2003.

James Weir, a director, joined in 1990 from Hambros Advanced Technology trust where he was a director.

Samantha da Soller joined the firm in 2001 from Donaldson Lufkin & Jenrette where she worked in the European Private Equity department and Béatrice Viver joined in 2003 as an investment manager from BC Partners in Paris where she spent two years working as an associate on large LBO transactions.

The firm’s focus will remain on growth businesses with enterprise values of between €30 million and €300 million. Duke Street will continue to build pan European market leaders from its bases in London and Paris.