Buyout firm Doughty Hanson has secured a quick agreement with its investors to purchase USP Hospitales for €355m despite the death of co-founder Nigel Doughty triggering a freeze on the fund at the weekend.

Doughty has bought the Spanish hospitals group, the country's third-largest private operator, from Barclays and Royal Bank of Scotland for nine times its forecast 2012 earnings before interest, tax depreciation and amortisation.