Our focus on basic industries allows us more flexibility in the amount of time and expertise we can invest in our clients. There are significant economic returns available to those investors in smaller firms that can recognize and harness the power of business metrics and information systems. We utilize proven technology to bring stable and predictable cash flows to our partnerships. We recognize that even good management teams can be overwhelmed by financial challenges. We invest where we can complement the operational talents of existing management.
The smaller emerging and underperforming firms are underserved. We view our investments as a value opportunity. Through our proprietary advisory experience, we are able to bundle a broad spectrum of critical expertise that smaller firms need but generally cannot afford. We invest significant time in developing corporate strategy, determining appropriate business benchmarks, supporting management teams and systems, and monitoring performance. Our experience continues to support our belief that this market provides the best opportunity for consistently superior returns and results that benefit customers, employees, vendors, lenders, management, owners and investors.
Emerging and underperforming firms each require a unique strategy to achieve economic success. As a result of our extensive background in restructuring corporations we are very focused on transaction motivations. We have found that when key employees, management and partners are: a) equipped with appropriate action plans, systems and capital and b) are offered a fair incentive for superior results, then predictable superior results occur. We maintain that a flexible approach is required in achieving the best transaction outcome, whether through debt or stock, with either a majority or minority ownership basis.
We seek opportunities where management has a collaborative approach in building its business. While we actively support management by providing strategic operating and financial guidance, we do not seek to operate our portfolio companies on a day-to-day basis. Fundamental teamwork typically occurs only when management interests are closely aligned with investor interests through meaningful equity ownership and performance-based equity incentives. We believe that seasoned, talented, and committed management teams that are financially incented are the best way to build shareholder wealth.
