Services, Private Equity
Private Equity
Where Venture Capital is about backing a company still finding its shape, Private Equity is about businesses that already have one: an established operation, real revenue, and a decision to make about who sits at the table next.
Established businesses need a different conversation than growth-stage ones. Fewer open questions about whether the model works, more questions about capital structure, governance rights, and how a new shareholder sits alongside what's already there. This page sets out how we approach that conversation.
How this differs from Venture Capital
Our Venture Capital activity focuses on earlier, growth-stage companies. Private Equity is for more established businesses, those with a real operating history and a mature commercial footing, whether that's a founder-led company hitting a scaling ceiling or a family business opening its capital for the first time. The difference is the maturity of the business, not the mechanics: in both cases, we invest our own capital directly as an equity holder.
How we work
We invest as principal, holding equity positions directly rather than through a pooled fund raised from outside investors. Depending on the size of the stake and what the situation calls for, we can be a quiet minority shareholder or take a more active role: a board seat, input on a specific strategic question, support through a transition. We size our involvement to what the business actually needs, not to a fixed template.
Structures we consider
| Structure | When it tends to fit |
|---|---|
| Minority equity stake | Existing shareholders keep control; we take a lighter-touch position and stay close without steering. |
| Significant minority with governance rights | The size of the stake justifies a board seat or a say on major decisions. |
| Structured equity | The company's capital structure already has multiple share classes and we fit alongside them. |
This table is indicative of the range we're comfortable with, not a fixed menu, and not a commitment for any specific transaction.
A situation this fits
Picture a family-owned manufacturer that has built up decades of customer trust but needs outside capital and a fresh set of eyes to modernise its operations and plan for succession. Or a founder-led services firm that has grown past what its current shareholders can fund alone. Both are the kind of businesses we like working with: real, established, and ready for a partner rather than a rescue.
What doesn't fit
Frequently asked
Already generating revenue, and thinking about your next shareholder?
Tell us about your business and what you're looking for through our Apply For Funding process.