What owners of family businesses in Norfolk and Suffolk should think about before a sale, and who the buyers are.
Supported and transitional living: where private capital fits
What institutional buyers pay for student houses, and what drives the price
The Renters Rights Act and portfolio landlords: sell, hold or grow
Regional offices at ten per cent cash yields: why we keep investing
Seneca Property: five regional acquisitions and an exit
Deal Announcement: Seneca Property
CHRYSTAL CAPITAL INTRODUCES FAMILY OFFICES AND UHNWI CO-INVESTORS TO SENECA PROPERTY, WOKING
Chrystal Capital Partners LLP (“Chrystal”), a Mayfair-based corporate finance and investment house, is pleased to announce that it has acted as an introducer of capital to Seneca Property Investments Limited (“Seneca Property), an independent real estate investor, on its c.£12.5m purchase of the Woking One, Woking, at a c.12% yield. The freehold property is a prominent mixed-use building in the centre of Woking, providing flexible workspace alongside retail, residential and leisure uses. The building extends to approximately 54,815 sq ft, comprising office accommodation arranged across multiple upper floors with a fully let ground floor retail provision and a small residential element.
“This is now our 5th acquisition with Seneca and the reason for our support is that they deliver a 10%+ cash equity yield and continue to show, across the whole portfolio, that they can increase income through tenant improvements that is linked to a solid underlying service to their customers. We see more value to come from this sector and our relationship with Jeff and Chris.”
“We deliver on our promises to vendors. We fulfil our obligations to our investors. We move quickly to complete transactions and when an asset is owned we work collaboratively with clients to make sure they get a service that they are willing to pay for. We see significant potential in Woking One due to its location and quality of offering.”
About Seneca Property
Seneca Property is an independent real estate investor which seeks to provide exceptional income and growth investment opportunities for investors. Seneca invest across a range of sectors including office, retail, leisure, industrial, residential and healthcare.
For more information about Seneca Property, please visit https://senecaproperty.com/.
About Chrystal Capital Co-investments
Single Family Offices (SFOs) and Ultra High Net Worth Individuals (UHNWIs) are continually seeking access to high quality, professionally structured and well managed co-investment opportunities across a range of asset classes, without having to directly source and negotiate these opportunities. The ideal scenario enables our clients to cherry pick the investment opportunities they participate in, with limited demands on their time and resources. Through our relationships with institutional investors, we enable SFOs and UHNWIs to gain access to attractive investment opportunities that they might otherwise not be aware of. We provide curated deal flow across a variety of sectors, asset classes and structures – all tailored to known, specified preferences.
For more information about Chrystal Capital please visit https://www.chrystalcapital.com.
For further information please contact: James Innes, Managing Partner
Seneca: Woking One, 54,815 sq ft of mixed use space
How to sell a student HMO portfolio
Choosing an HMO portfolio adviser
Seneca: Premier Inn Preston, bought in 2023 and sold to Epsicap
Deal Announcement: Seneca Property exits Premier Inn, Preston to Epsicap REIM for £9.75m
SENECA PROPERTY EXITS PREMIER INN, PRESTON TO EPSICAP REIM FOR £9.75M
Chrystal Capital Partners LLP (“Chrystal”), a Mayfair-based corporate finance and investment house, is pleased to announce that it has exited its investment in the Premier Inn, Preston.
“We have completed a number of acquisitions with Seneca over the past two years and it has been a revelation to see first hand how they manage assets to drive incremental yield. With Epsicap we know the asset has been passed onto a robust guardian who will enjoy significant income for years to come”
“There is no doubt that Chrystal Capital have demonstrated that they and their underlying family office investors understand our business model and how we can deliver value in a very short period of time”
About Seneca Property
Seneca Property is an independent real estate investor which seeks to provide exceptional income and growth investment opportunities for investors. Seneca invest across a range of sectors including office, retail, leisure, industrial, residential and healthcare.
For more information about Seneca Property, please visit https://senecaproperty.com/.
About Chrystal Capital Co-investments
Single Family Offices (SFOs) and Ultra High Net Worth Individuals (UHNWIs) are continually seeking access to high quality, professionally structured and well managed co-investment opportunities across a range of asset classes, without having to directly source and negotiate these opportunities. The ideal scenario enables our clients to cherry pick the investment opportunities they participate in, with limited demands on their time and resources.
Through our relationships with institutional investors, we enable SFOs and UHNWIs to gain access to attractive investment opportunities that they might otherwise not be aware of. We provide curated deal flow across a variety of sectors, asset classes and structures – all tailored to known, specified preferences.
For more information about Chrystal Capital please visit https://www.chrystalcapital.com.
For further information please contact:
James Innes, Managing Partner
james.innes@chrystalcapital.com
https://www.chrystalcapital.com
Condor Properties: sale of a 997 bed student HMO portfolio
Deal Announcement: Condor Properties
CHRYSTAL CAPITAL ADVISES CONDOR PROPERTIES ON ITS SALE TO BROOKFIELD AND SHM
Chrystal Capital Partners LLP (“Chrystal”), a Mayfair-based corporate finance and investment house, is pleased to announce that it has advised Condor Properties (“Condor”) on the sale of a portfolio comprising 997 beds across 197 assets located in key UK university cities including Aberystwyth, Cardiff, Exeter, Liverpool, Loughborough, and Swansea. Condor’s established operating platform has been acquired by a joint venture between a trade operator and a major institutional investor, with the terms of the transaction remaining undisclosed.
Since its inception in 2009, Condor Properties has become one of the UK’s fastest growing Student Accommodation providers. Originally assembled by a family office in the aftermath of the financial crisis, the Condor portfolio has grown into a substantial collection of student accommodation assets across the UK. Following an unsolicited approach, and with no family succession in place to oversee a portfolio of this scale, the owners decided the time was right to pursue a discreet and carefully managed sale process.
“Having known Mark for over 30 years it was an honour to be given the responsibility of selling a portfolio of student housing that he had built up since 2010. We spent considerable time scoping the market and ensuring that we had a buyer who were serious in their intent to move quickly and deliver on promised terms. We now know there are a number of institutional buyers in the market and how best to approach them.”
“No one had undertaken a transaction of the size and nature of Condor and we needed to trust an advisor that could take us through uncharted waters. James and his team got the job done in a matter of a few short months with an outcome that was good for all parties.”
The Transaction
Brookfield Asset Management, a global alternative asset manager, and Student Homes Management (‘SHM’), a UK co-living investor with over 2,000 beds under management, have acquired a 997 bed UK-based student housing portfolio.
The acquisition of Condor Properties, an owner-operator specialising in student houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), represents Brookfield’s first foray into UK student HMO housing, having previously held a substantial purpose built student accommodation portfolio in the UK; for SHM, the acquisition adds significantly to their existing portfolio and widens their national presence within the student accommodation sector.
The joint venture between Brookfield and SHM has appointed Loc8me to manage the portfolio across its six university cities, including Exeter, Liverpool and Cardiff.
The acquisition is the largest student HMO deal in recent memory, coming hot on the heels of the Renters’ Rights Act, which received royal assent on 27th October. The sale of the HMO portfolio to Brookfield and SHM signals the beginning of a predicted shift towards institutional landlords within the rental sector as smaller portfolio landlords grapple with the changing regulatory landscape.
About Condor Properties
Condor Properties is a specialist student letting agent operating in Aberystwyth, Cardiff, Coventry, Exeter, Hereford, Liverpool, Loughborough, and Swansea. It has a dedicated, highly reactive maintenance team and a dedicated Location Manager for each city where it lets student HMO properties.
Condor has developed a strong brand and won the prestigious accolade of Corporate Landlord of the Year at the 2014/15 Landlord & Letting Awards. As an owner operator Condor actively manage all their properties. Operating in 8 cities across the UK their target market is middle to upper end student accommodation.
For more information about Condor Properties, please visit https://www.condorproperties.co.uk/.
About Chrystal Capital
Chrystal Capital is an entrepreneurial corporate finance and investment house with an established global network of Single Family Offices (SFOs), Ultra High Net Worth Individuals (UHNWIs) and private equity co-investment partners. We act as a conduit between our network members, providing bespoke solutions for their capital and investment objectives.
Our core sectors are Digital Economy, Health & Wellness, Sustainable & Impact Investments, Property and Natural Resources.
Our service areas are Advisory, Principal Investments and Co-investments.
For more information about Chrystal Capital please visit https://www.chrystalcapital.com.
For further information please contact:
James Innes, Managing Partner
james.innes@chrystalcapital.com
https://www.chrystalcapital.com
Deal Announcement: Castellum Capital Partners
CHRYSTAL CAPITAL ACTS AS FINANCIAL ADVISOR TO CASTELLUM CAPITAL PARTNERS
Chrystal Capital Partners LLP (“Chrystal”), a Mayfair-based corporate finance and investment house, is pleased to announce that it has advised Castellum Capital Partners Ltd (“Castellum”) on securing an investment from a family office investor in support of its short-duration UK specialty credit strategy focused on granular legal cost receivables.Castellum is an FCA-authorised investment adviser focused on funding fixed legal case costs on a non-recourse basis within UK housing disrepair litigation, with returns driven by contractual participation in law-firm fee recoveries.
“Castellum has developed a differentiated specialty credit strategy with short-duration assets, contractual return mechanics and a strong focus on downside protection. We are pleased to have supported the business in securing this investment and continue to work with the team as they seek further capital to scale the strategy.”
“This investment marks an important step for Castellum and provides further validation of our strategy, underwriting framework and operating model. We remain actively engaged with prospective investors as we seek further capital to support the continued scaling of the platform.”
About Castellum Capital Partners
Castellum Capital Partners is an FCA-authorised investment adviser focused on a short-duration UK specialty credit strategy funding granular, fixed legal cost receivables.
The strategy is designed to provide capital to experienced law firms on a non-recourse basis to fund defined fixed case costs within established legal frameworks, with returns driven by contractual participation in law-firm fee recoveries rather than binary litigation outcomes.
The strategy is focused on repeatable, small-ticket case deployments, with downside protection supported by insurance arrangements and a structure designed around capital recycling, disciplined underwriting and liquidity alignment. Castellum’s model is intended to provide investors with access to uncorrelated, cash-generative assets within a specialist area of private credit.
About Chrystal Capital
Chrystal Capital is a corporate finance and investment house with an established global network of Single Family Offices, Ultra High Net Worth Individuals and private equity co-investment partners. We act as a conduit between our network members, providing bespoke solutions for their capital and investment objectives.
Our core sectors are Digital Economy, Health & Wellness, Sustainable & Impact Investments, Natural Resources and Property.
Our service areas are Advisory, Principal Investments and Co-investments.
For further information please contact:
James Innes
Managing
James.innes@chrystalcapital.com
Castellum Capital Partners: family office investment in specialty credit
Co living in Cambridge: how the model works for investors
Succession in a family owned company: the options
Deal Announcement: Seneca Property
CHRYSTAL CAPITAL INTRODUCES FAMILY OFFICES AND UHNWI CO-INVESTORS TO SENECA PROPERTY
Chrystal Capital Partners LLP (“Chrystal”), a Mayfair-based corporate finance and investment house, is pleased to announce that it has acted as an introducer of capital to Seneca Property Investments Limited (“Seneca Property), an independent real estate investor, on its c.£6m purchase of the 200 West - Bristol, at a c.11.3% yield.
The freehold property is characterised by its prime location, 11 separate office suites with its own front door, EPC A/B throughout, immediate access to local transport links and immediate gains to be made with manging available space. As with all our transactions alongside Seneca Property we have a significant initial cash yield on equity (10%) and a target net IRR in excess of 20% on a 3-year investment horizon.
“This is now our fourth deal with Seneca targeting out of London, multi-let offices. We are achieving high NIYs with long term income security with upside revisionary yields of 15%+. We are currently speaking to a number of JV partners about investing £100m+ into the sector and would welcome those that are interested to reach out to further discussions. These assets generate cash and significant capital upside.”
“There is a significant opportunity in the UK market. We have a track record of buying best quality assets with established tenants. We can show we can manage vacant space in the regions.”
About Seneca Property
Seneca Property is an independent real estate investor which seeks to provide exceptional income and growth investment opportunities for investors. Seneca invest across a range of sectors including office, retail, leisure, industrial, residential and healthcare.
For more information about Seneca Property, please visit https://senecaproperty.com/.
About Chrystal Capital Co-investments
Single Family Offices (SFOs) and Ultra High Net Worth Individuals (UHNWIs) are continually seeking access to high quality, professionally structured and well managed co-investment opportunities across a range of asset classes, without having to directly source and negotiate these opportunities. The ideal scenario enables our clients to cherry pick the investment opportunities they participate in, with limited demands on their time and resources.
Through our relationships with institutional investors, we enable SFOs and UHNWIs to gain access to attractive investment opportunities that they might otherwise not be aware of. We provide curated deal flow across a variety of sectors, asset classes and structures – all tailored to known, specified preferences.
For more information about Chrystal Capital please visit https://www.chrystalcapital.com.
For further information please contact:
James Innes, Managing Partner
james.innes@chrystalcapital.com
https://www.chrystalcapital.com
Deal Announcement: Panacap Cambridge Co-Living Platform
CHRYSTAL CAPITAL ACTS AS FINANCIAL ADVISOR TO PANACAP ON A CAMBRIDGE CO-LIVING FUND RAISE
Chrystal Capital Partners LLP (“Chrystal”), a Mayfair-based corporate finance and investment house, is pleased to announce that it acted as financial advisor to Panacap on a fund raise to support the acquisition, refurbishment and refinancing of residential properties in Cambridge to create professionally managed co-living assets. The strategy is executed through dedicated SPVs, with Panacap leading sourcing and execution and Babouris acting as the third-party operating partner.
“This transaction reflects the strength of the underlying Cambridge market and the appeal of a strategy combining disciplined acquisition, refurbishment and refinancing with an experienced local operating partner. We were delighted to advise Panacap on this fund raise and help position a compelling, scalable co-living opportunity for investors.”
“Chrystal provided valuable advice throughout the process and helped communicate the opportunity clearly and effectively to investors. Their support was important in helping us complete this fund raise and broaden the capital base for the strategy.”
About Panacap
Panacap is the investment and execution platform behind the strategy, focused on sourcing residential properties in Cambridge, overseeing refurbishment programmes and completing refinancings through dedicated SPV structures.
The platform is designed to create professionally managed co-living assets in a supply-constrained market with strong underlying tenant demand.About BabourisBabouris is a Cambridge-based property management business specialising primarily in HMOs.
Within the strategy, Babouris acts as the third-party operating partner, supporting letting and ongoing management of completed assets.
About Chrystal Capital
Chrystal Capital is a corporate finance and investment house with an established global network of Single Family Offices, Ultra High Net Worth Individuals and private equity co-investment partners. We act as a conduit between our network members, providing bespoke solutions for their capital and investment objectives.Our core sectors are Digital Economy, Health & Wellness, Sustainable & Impact Investments, Natural Resources and Property.
Our service areas are Advisory, Principal Investments and Co-investments.
For further information please contact:James InnesManaging Partner
james.innes@chrystalcapital.com https://www.chrystalcapital.com