Principal Investments
Our own capital, in a small number of businesses we understand.
How we invest
Principal investment means Crystal Zest or group resources are committed directly. That shapes how we behave: we take fewer positions, we spend longer on diligence, and we expect to be involved after the money goes in.
We are usually more interested in a business with an understandable model and an obvious operational gap than in a business that requires a market to move in its favour.
Areas of interest
- Growth capital for established businesses
- Strategic minority investments
- Full or controlling business acquisitions
- Joint ventures
- Operationally underdeveloped businesses
- Succession or owner-exit situations
- Businesses requiring commercial repositioning
What happens after an investment
Reporting discipline first: a monthly pack, a small set of KPIs and a clear cash view. Then the two or three operational changes that formed the basis of the investment case, with named owners and dates.
Start a confidential conversation
Whether you are preparing to sell, looking to acquire, raising capital or trying to lift the value of a business you already own, the first step is a short, confidential discussion about the situation.