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Investment Approach

Buy good.
Make excellent.

Our thesis is simple but demanding: identify companies with proven fundamentals, acquire them at fair valuations, and create transformational value through operational depth — not financial engineering.

What we look for in a company.

We are not a turnaround fund. We invest in fundamentally sound businesses. The challenge is not the business — it's the transition. Our edge is finding excellent companies in imperfect circumstances.

Financial Profile

  • EBITDA between €1M and €5M, positive and recurring
  • Enterprise Value €5M–€25M
  • EBITDA margins above 15%
  • Stable, predictable cash flows
  • Low or no leverage (family businesses rarely use debt)

Business Characteristics

  • Proven business model with established market position
  • Loyal, diversified customer base
  • Regional or national market leadership in niche
  • Stagnant growth — not by lack of potential, but lack of investment
  • Owner 55+ years old, no clear family successor

Sectors of Focus

  • Light manufacturing and industrial services
  • Agri-food and regional food production
  • Specialized B2B distribution and services
  • Healthcare, wellness, and private education
  • Transport, logistics, and niche tourism

What We Avoid

  • Pure-play technology startups (pre-revenue)
  • Real estate investment vehicles
  • Defense, gambling, tobacco, or adult sectors
  • Businesses requiring immediate turnaround
  • Minority positions with no governance rights

Geography

Spain-first, EU-selective

≥85% of investments in Spain (Peninsula, Balearic and Canary Islands). Up to 15% selectively in EU markets where synergies or comparable opportunities are identified. Primary focus on regional leaders across all Spanish autonomous communities.

From first contact to full transformation.

01

Proprietary Sourcing

We generate deal flow through our network of regional intermediaries, M&A boutiques, chambers of commerce, and vertical operators embedded in target sectors. We have already identified over 20 preliminary targets. Our proprietary sourcing reduces competition and allows us to build trust with founders before any formal process begins.

02

Initial Screening & NDA

Preliminary evaluation of sector fit, financial profile, and succession context. If the opportunity meets our criteria, we sign a confidentiality agreement and begin deeper exploration. We move quickly and give every founder a clear, respectful answer.

03

Letter of Intent (LOI)

We negotiate and sign a non-binding LOI establishing the valuation range, ownership structure, future role of the founder, and exclusivity period for due diligence. We prize clarity and founder alignment at this stage above all else.

04

Full Due Diligence

Rigorous financial, legal, tax, labor, commercial, and ESG due diligence — conducted internally and with trusted external specialists. We validate the business plan, assess corrigible risks, and design the post-acquisition transformation roadmap in parallel.

05

Investment Committee Approval

Each investment is presented to our formal Investment Committee — comprising the three managing partners and two independent members — and requires a qualified majority (3 of 4 votes) to proceed. No investment is made without IC sign-off.

06

Acquisition & Day-One Protocol

We complete the SPA with robust representations, warranties, and price adjustment mechanisms. Immediately upon closing, our 100-day plan begins: operational stabilization, communication to employees and customers, governance establishment, and the launch of the first digital quick-wins.

Transformation from day one.

The first 100 days after acquisition are critical. Our squad team integrates immediately into the company's organization — not to disrupt, but to stabilize, learn, and begin capturing value.

Days 0–30: Stabilization

Formal introduction of the new governance structure to employees, management, customers, and suppliers. Financial and operational situation review. Formation of a transition oversight committee with the founding owner, new management, Mestral, and Risetech. Digital maturity assessment begins.

Days 30–60: Quick Wins

Immediate efficiency measures agreed with the founder. Process standardization in critical workflows. Design of the full Digital Transformation Master Plan (24–36 months). Commercial strategy prioritization and initial campaign activation.

Days 60–100: Structural Launch

Launch of 3–5 high-impact, low-complexity digital projects: CRM implementation, billing automation, first BI dashboards, AI pilot for lead scoring or customer service. New governance structure fully operational.

Five Value Levers

Digital & AI ERP, CRM, BI dashboards, process automation, AI pilots
Operations Process reengineering, cost optimization, quality systems
Commercial Geographic expansion, new channels, digital marketing, pricing
Finance Capital structure, institutional reporting, KPI framework
Organization Governance, talent, ESG, founder succession protocol

Planned exits.
Maximum value.

We define an exit strategy from day one of every investment. Our goal is to create companies that command premium multiples — not just survive them. Target exits between years 4 and 7, with two annual extension options.

Strategic Sale

Preferred exit route: sale to a strategic or industrial buyer who values the professionalized, digital-ready business as a complement or consolidation target.

Secondary PE Buyout

Once grown from €3M to €6–8M EBITDA, portfolio companies become attractive for mid-market PE funds seeking established, well-run businesses.

Management Buyout

In select cases, the professional management team — often including the vertical operator — may acquire the business through a leveraged MBO, supported by institutional debt.

Disciplined projections.
Honest scenarios.

Adverse

~1.3x

Net return to LPs

Severe macro disruption. Capital preservation mode. Below 5% net IRR.

Conservative

~2.2x

Net return to LPs

Adequate portfolio execution. ~13–15% net IRR. Capital doubled net of fees.

Target (Base)

~3.4x

Net return to LPs

Full plan execution. 22–26% net IRR. This is the case we are building toward.

Optimistic

4x+

Net return to LPs

Exceptional execution + favorable macro. 30%+ net IRR. Achievable, not the plan.

All returns shown are estimated net of management fees (2% p.a.) and carried interest (20% above 10% hurdle rate). Past performance is not indicative of future results. These projections are illustrative only.

Interested in the fund?

Request the full PPM or schedule a call with our team.

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