in 2009, following the credit crunch, when many small-to-medium-size businesses were forced to pull back and sacrifice growth, and sometimes solvency. A small group of investors recognized an opportunity to provide liquidity at a make-or-break time, so they crafted an investment approach combining a unique mix of financial resources, creativity, and operational expertise. They recruited a select group of tenured professionals, set up shop in a small office, and went to work.