Doughty Hanson has paid £288m (€445m) for Priory Healthcare, the UK's largest independent provider of mental health services and a rehabilitation centre notorious for its rich and famous clients.

Priory Healthcare's connections with high-profile patients means its acquisition will raise the profile of Doughty Hanson. The private equity firm plans to launch a new fund and the acquisition may prove the starting gun for that process. The new fund is targeting €3.5bn. If Doughty Hanson succeeds in raising it, the fund will confirm its position as one of Europe's largest independent private equity firms.