New Zealand · Acquisition & long-term ownership
We will acquire and operate one enduring New Zealand business — protecting its people and customers, and honouring the legacy of its owner.
Why Lauriston
Selling the business you spent a career building is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. We offer a considered alternative to a trade sale or a private equity buyout: a single owner-operator who steps in full-time, looks after what you have created, and holds it for the long term.
Our commitment to you
A full or partial cash exit, structured around your timeline and your goals.
Your employees and customers come first. We buy to hold and to build.
A dedicated owner-operator who steps in as required, adapting to the management already in place.
Flexible terms and a discreet, disciplined process that keeps disruption to you and your team to a minimum.
We invest our own capital, backed by committed funding. When we buy, we are all in.
The investor-operators
Lauriston Capital is led by two mid-career investor-operators who have spent their working lives on every side of a business transition — as advisers, investors and owner-operators. Between us we have been part of more than 30 exits, and we believe a full-time owner backing the business with their own capital gives a founder's legacy the best chance to endure.
Tom has spent 13 years guiding founder-led businesses through changes of ownership. He has worked across New Zealand private equity, acquisition finance at an NZ bank, five years of investment banking in London, and corporate finance advisory — spanning deals from $5m to $5bn in technology, healthcare, infrastructure and beyond. He holds a BCom, BA and PgDipCom (Finance) from the University of Otago and has passed all three levels of the CFA Program.
James began his career as an accountant to private New Zealand businesses before spending three years in finance roles in London across private equity and listed companies. In 2017 he moved into ownership himself, acquiring a significant stake in a commercial construction business and leading it through strong growth while modernising its systems and building a high-performing team. Alongside this he has built a portfolio of income-producing commercial property that provides capital stability and funding flexibility. He holds a BCom (Accounting) from the University of Otago and is a qualified Chartered Accountant.
The fit
We are buying one business, so we are deliberate about fit. We look for:
A consistently profitable, cash-generative business.
Annual earnings before interest and tax in this range.
An owner ready to step back after a long period of ownership.
Strong market positioning with no over-reliance on any single customer.
A robust, understandable business without undue complexity.
What to expect
An informal, no-obligation chat to understand your business and what matters most to you.
If it feels right, we sign an NDA and openly exchange information — you learn about us, and we learn about the business.
We move quickly to an indicative offer, and walk you through exactly how we reached it.
We complete diligence efficiently and plan a transition that protects your team and your customers.
Get in touch
Whether you own a great business, advise one, or simply have one in mind, we would like to hear from you. We understand how sensitive these conversations are, and every discussion is kept strictly confidential.