Team
Stuart McManus
Stuart contributes extensive property development and investment banking experience. In his previous roles, he has been responsible for luxury hospitality facilities in the USA, healthcare and related commercial businesses and residential property development. His residential development projects have featured superior quality offerings, in premium destinations. In all cases a key aspect of the valueenhancement arose from a timely execution of the entitlement process. Stuart´s investment banking experience includes hospitality, media, healthcare technology, and automotive industries.
Stuart has a significant background in venture investing, business development, general management, and financial engineering within both entrepreneurial and Fortune 100 environments. Prior to forming Crystal Lake Capital, LLC, Stuart was President of Capstar Partners, LLC. Capstar Partners is the private investment company of R. Steven Hicks. Capstar leads and participates in the funding of early stage companies as well as more traditional investments. The company also serves as the management vehicle for all of the business assets of Mr. Hicks.
Stuart began his career with IBM Corporation in sales and marketing in New York City. After receiving his MBA in 1995, Stuart worked in the Project Finance division of ABN AMRO Bank in London and Amsterdam until 2000. Immediately prior to joining Capstar Partners, Stuart was an investment partner at Beachside Capital Partners in Westport, CT.
Stuart is currently an Independent Director for Shopoff Properties Trust, a real estate investment trust (REIT), and is a member of it's Audit and Compensation Committee.
Stuart is active in the local community and serves on various boards of investment companies and non-profit organizations. He received his BA from Northwestern University in 1989 and his MBA from J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management in Evanston, Illinois in 1995.
stuart.mcmanus@crystallakecapital.com
Mark Habner
Mark brings over eight years of private equity experience to Crystal Lake Capital. Mark was previously a partner with RMB Capital Partners, a mid-sized Australian private equity group, where he led a number of management buyouts, acquisitions and divestments. The return on these investments was ~40% IRR, and featured a range of industries including; healthcare, automotive, industrial hire equipment, electrical wholesaling, telecommunications and professional services. Mark was also a director and assisted in establishing Equinox Property Finance, a mid-sized mezzanine debt lender to residential and industrial developers. Equinox provides mezzanine debt up to 90% of LVR, bridging the gap between senior debt and equity. It quickly expanded from start-up in 2003 to fund over $100m loans in three years.