Crystal announces acquisition strategy following new investment

The passive, minority shareholding has been purchased by Pagos Holdings for an undisclosed sum.

Crystal says the investment will be used in conjunction with its capital reserves to fund its own acquisition strategy. This will include the identification and purchase of companies who complement Crystal’s current offering which serves mortgage brokers and professional introducers.

Crystal provides commercial finance, bridging loans, second-charge mortgages, development finance, specialist residential and buy-to-let mortgages.

It says the new investment will allow it to take advantage of significant opportunities within the specialist finance market, and as a result meant it could bring forward plans to grow its operation.

The business said it was currently in "advanced negotiations with a number of specific companies who it is seeking to bring on board".

Jason Berry, group sales and marketing director, said: “The specialist market is set to offer huge opportunity during the next few years, so this new investment coupled with our own acquisitional funds comes at the perfect time for us. It provides a war chest which we will use with diligence to grow both organically and through acquisition.

“Brokers and introducers are at the heart of everything we do. We will therefore continue to invest in technology, so the slickest and quickest submission journey is delivered, plus we will buy and then support good businesses who complement what we do.

“We particularly want to ensure brokers and introducers, who are maybe overwhelmed with current opportunities, have a simple and trusted referral solution.

“Our specific proposition is an attractive one to investors because of the depth of experience and activity we deliver in the specialist market. Based purely on the value of the loans Crystal completed in 2021, if we were a specialist lender, we would be comfortably sitting at the top table.

“This is an exciting development for Crystal and one which will only enhance the proposition we offer our broker and professional introducer partners. There is much more to come in the very near future.”