Overview
We invest for the long term, and we do not invest to sell our businesses on.
The Constantine Group began as a shipping company in Middlesbrough, UK in 1885. Over 130 years later, the company has remained in the same family but, since the middle of last century, has diversified its activity from shipping into a multi-discipline investment company.
Constantine Group focusses its investment activity on businesses and sectors where its operational experience gives it a competitive advantage to assist the long-term growth of its investments.
Constantine Group is run by an experienced team, with investments in Energy, Logistics, and Property. The management team has direct experience in a wide range of sectors, including energy, logistics, property, healthcare, manufacturing, banking, insurance, leisure, and support services.
Investment Criteria
We look for several common features in the companies we select for investment:
- 01Good track record
They are early-stage or established businesses – not start-up businesses – with a good track record in their field.
- 02Market niche
They are operating in a market niche where they have an established position and a recognised brand.
- 03Potential
They are companies that have clear potential for growth.
- 04Ambition
They are run by people who share our approach to the long-term development of our businesses and who share our ambition of making each company the market leader in its sector.
There are a number of situations when growing businesses can benefit from investment by Constantine Group:
- 01
You need additional investment to fund an acceleration of growth, either organically or through acquisition.
- 02
You want to encourage people in lower management to take over the business.
- 03
You are thinking about selling your business, so that you can retire or start a new venture.
- 04
You want to realise some value from your business, but still wish to grow it further.
Sectors
Our Investments
Leadership Team
Our directors have been associated with Constantine Group for very long periods. This mirrors our long-term approach to our investments in businesses.
Both the Executive and Non-Executive teams are a mix of family and non-family members. This combination of ownership and independence ensures a consistently passionate yet professional approach to everything we do.
Nigel is a major shareholder and has been a director of Constantine since 1996. He served as Group Chief Executive from 2008 to 2021 and became Executive Chairman in 2021.
Prior to Constantine, he was the Fine Art Underwriter at Hiscox plc for 10 years.
Dominic joined the company as Commercial Director in 2008 from investment bank Morgan Stanley and became Chief Executive in 2021. He set up Constantine’s investments in the Energy sector and is Chairman or Non-Executive Director of all the Group’s operating companies.
Dominic is a shareholder in the business.
Graham joined the company in 2019 from Civitas Investment Management, having spent the previous ten years in various senior positions within the investment management sector. He provides financial and investment oversight for the Group’s investments and is a Non-Executive Director of all the Group’s operating companies.
Graham is a chartered accountant and member of the ICAEW.
Kathie has multiple investment and not-for-profit interests, and is an adviser to UK Energy Ministers and Regulators. Prior to this, Kathie had a successful 24-year career in investment banking, primarily with HSBC and Merrill Lynch, focussing on utilities and renewable energy.
Kathie joined the Board in 2014 and served as Chairman from 2018 to 2021.
Rosie founded and runs a Community Interest Company which re-designs and delivers outdoor learning space in State Primary Schools. Prior to this she worked as a People Development Consultant for a large housing organisation.
Rosie is a Shareholder and joined the Board of Constantine Group in 2018.
Richard is a Managing Director of Lazard & Co., the banking advisory business. Prior to this, he spent 35 years in the investment management business with S.G. Warburg & Co. / Mercury Asset Management (BlackRock), and subsequently at NewSmith Asset Management, which he co-founded. He is a member of several investment committees.
He joined the Board of Constantine Group in 2023.
Alastair is a Chartered Accountant and a shareholder. He recently retired as the 50% owner and Finance Director of the BR Hodgson Group, a commercial property development sub-contractor specialising in facades and partitioning.
He joined the Board of Constantine Group in 2018.
Our Voyage
We are proud that Constantine has been a family-owned business since 1885.
Here we look back at our history…
Our Voyage
1885
Joseph Constantine invests in his first ship “Homewood”, a three-masted timber sailing barque, the start of a shipping fleet.
Joseph Constantine
Homewood
1914-18
At the outbreak of WWI in 1914, the Constantine fleet of 28 comprised 22 ocean-going steamers and 6 coastal vessels. During WWI, 13 ships and 32 crew members were lost to enemy action.
Earlswood
Kirnwood
1922
Joseph Constantine dies and is succeeded by his two sons, Robert and William.
Goodwood launch
R A Constantine & W W Constantine
1920s and 1930s
The story of the company between 1922 and 1939 was one of consolidation, innovation and rebuilding the fleet. Great care was taken to employ the most up to date technology and design elements in the new vessels.
In 1936, the Windsorwood, built for the Constantine Shipping Co., was the first ship in Britain built with the cutting edge ‘Maierform bow’.
Windsorwood
Part of the Constantine fleet
1930
Constantine Technical College in Middlesbrough is officially opened by the Prince of Wales (the future Edward VIII) on 2nd July 1930. In 1969, the college became a polytechnic then, in 1992, became Teesside University.
Constantine Technical College opening ceremony
College exterior
1939-1945
At the outbreak of WW2, the Constantine fleet of 18 ships comprised 9 deep-sea ships and 9 coastal ships.
7 deep-sea and 4 coastal vessels were lost. Included in these losses were the torpedoing of the magnificent Balmoralwood and 11 days later her sister ship the Windsorwood in the same North Atlantic waters.
1942 Maplewood
Gun practice
1947
After WW2 the company restricted the size of new orders to vessels of around 3,000 tons.
Constantine & Co is formed as the parent company for the group’s diversified shipping agency businesses (shipbroking, liner agency, port agency, wharfage, cargo agency, passenger agency, forwarding) with 10 regional offices in the UK
Teeswood in the Port of London
Evan Cook
1950s
The company was evolving into three increasingly distinct areas of operation: ships, shipping services and property.
The property division, started in 1929, grows rapidly with the development of apartment blocks in London.
St James’s Close
1960
Launched in 1960 the Eastwood is the last ship to be built for the Constantine Shipping Co.
Robert and William Constantine retire. Robert Constantine’s sons, Norman and Joe, become Chairman and Chief Executive.
In the mid 1960’s with the advent of containerisation, the entire fleet is sold.
Eastwood launch
Lochwood
1969
Connells Estate Agents is acquired, with 10 branches. In 1984, Connells was listed on the London Stock Exchange. By the time Constantine sold its interest in 1991, Connells had 130 branches. To this day, it remains the largest chain of estate agents in the UK.
1971
The company’s property interests expand into Canada and the USA. In 1971, the profits from these successful property developments were reinvested in a 100,000 acre cattle ranch in the Cariboo managed by Red Allison.
1970 and 1980s
Constantine concentrates on two activities: Property Investment, Development and Agency in the UK and Canada; and International Shipping Services (principally export packing and forwarding).
Constantine Property team
Packing for export
1990s
In 1991 John Simson becomes Chairman and Chief Executive. In 1996, he is succeeded as Chief Executive by Nigel Constantine.
John Simson
Nigel Constantine
1994
Constantine acquires Elddis, the motorhome and caravan manufacturer.
2000s
In 2006 Alan McWalter, at the time Marketing Director of Marks & Spencer plc, becomes Chairman and in 2008 Nigel Prescot becomes Chief Executive.
Alan McWalter
Nigel Prescot
2005
Constantine expands its logistics interests. To Constantine Limited, its existing Fine Art logistics business, it adds Peters & May (yachts), Simtex International (hazardous cargo) and CEC (couriers).
Constantine Limited: Moving an outsize painting from Battle Abbey
Peters & May
2010
Constantine Energy is formed and acquires a stake in TGC Renewables, a developer of solar sites in the UK.
2010
The company celebrates 125 years of continuous family ownership.
Directors past and present
Celebrating 125 years
2011
Constantine Limited is awarded the Royal Warrant from HM The Queen.
2011
Constantine Wind Energy, a developer and installer of onshore wind turbines, is set up as a joint venture with Jemm Capital.
2017
In February 2017, after 23 years of ownership by Constantine Group, The Explorer Group was sold to Erwin Hymer Group, Europe’s largest manufacturer of motorhomes and caravans.
2018
Constantine Group invested in Pelagic Energy, a developer of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).
2020
Constantine London West – The UK’s largest and most sustainable art store is opened.
2021
Nigel Prescot becomes Chairman and Dominic Akers-Douglas is promoted to Chief Executive. Dominic is the first Chief Executive In Constantine’s History to be a non-family member.
Dominic Akers-Douglas, Chief Executive
Nigel Prescot, Chairman
2022
Constantine Energy Storage, an owner and operator of Battery Energy Storage Systems is established with an initial investment from two leading Pension funds, Railpen and Aimco.
Learn more about the Constantine Group history…
Download “The Constantine Group 1885 – 2010” by Roland Vernon. Produced in celebration of the company’s 125th Anniversary
We are an expanding business, constantly looking for new opportunities to invest in sectors where we can add value and can see the potential for growth.
Get in touch
Constantine’s Head Office is located in Godalming, Surrey, very close to the station with excellent links to London (Waterloo) and the South Coast.
We are within easy reach of the A3 and nearby Heathrow and Gatwick airports along with access to major arterial routes including the M25, M3, and M23.
Constantine Group Limited
River Court
Mill Lane
Godalming GU7 1EZ
01483 412060
By Train
Direct service from London Waterloo (c40 minutes)
By Car
35 miles south-west of London
(c90 minutes)