The Dealmaker

An inside account of the multi-billion pound world of private equity and a masterclass on the art of deal-making from one of Britain’s most high-profile investors.

‘The only book about private equity to read like a thriller.’ The Times


Diagnosed at the age of five as severely dyslexic, Guy Hands managed to overcome the challenges of school to attend Oxford University and start his own private equity company. Now, in The Dealmaker he shares the ups and downs of a tumultuous career as a serial entrepreneur.

In his insightful book, Hands charts his career in private equity, first at Nomura and then as head of his own company, Terra Firma. He looks in detail at the huge deals that Terra Firma has done over the years, involving everything from cinema chains and pubs to waste management, aircraft leasing and green energy.

He also provides a brutally honest appraisal of the deal that almost bankrupted him - the acquisition of multinational music recording and publishing company EMI in 2007, just as a global financial crash loomed on the horizon.

Above all, he gives the reader a real sense of what it's like inside the secretive world of private equity, describing in frank detail the pressures and rewards involved.

Insightful and page-turning, The Dealmaker will prove inspirational and essential reading for all those who want to understand how huge business negotiations are done, and what makes one of private equity's biggest players tick.


‘Far from being the typical business book…. It grips the reader from the first page . . . This book should definitely be on your reading list.’ Money Week

‘If you are curious to learn the secrets of these financial alchemists, here is your chance to do so from the very best.’ Business Standard