GANDALF TRUST
With decades of restructuring expertise and a proven, practical methodology, we evaluate opportunities quickly and guide distressed companies toward renewed viability.
We Turn Distressed Businesses into Opportunity
Gandalf Trust is a specialist acquirer and turnaround partner focused on distressed companies across South Africa.
Where most investors see risk, we see opportunity: undervalued assets, mispriced liabilities, and unrealised potential.
Founded by Dr Karl Gribnitz, a leading authority in business rescue and turnaround strategy, Gandalf combines deep financial insight with practical operational execution.
What We Do
Acquisition of Distressed Companies
We buy distressed or insolvent companies directly from their shareholders, providing an exit that is faster, simpler, and more practical than traditional sales.
Our team identifies situations where value has been impaired not by fundamentals, but by temporary circumstances such as operational failure, mismanagement, or liquidity constraints.
We determine the real value and create a clear pathway to unlock it.
Why Choose Gandalf Trust?
Decades of Distressed-Market Experience
Over 120 business turnarounds since 1994.
Fast, Efficient Transaction Process
No costly presentations, extensive audits, or lengthy legal debates. We work quickly and professionally – with minimal disruption.
No-Warranties, Fee-Free Evaluations
We do not charge to evaluate your business, and we require only limited warranties from sellers.
Multi-Disciplinary Team
Our professionals include:
- Chartered Accountants
- Corporate lawyers
- Engineers
- Restructuring specialists
- A physicist
This gives us the ability to analyse complex situations rapidly and accurately.
Simple Agreements, Confidential Process
We value privacy, clarity, and speed. Our agreements are drafted in-house, compliant with the Companies Act, and designed for rapid execution.
How We Work
We know distressed businesses need solutions now, not next year. Our process is fast, realistic, and designed to maximise outcomes for all stakeholders.
Confidential Introduction
You contact us. We protect your information and begin discussions privately.
Information Review
We request only the essential information – even if incomplete or unaudited.
Rapid Assessment
Using proprietary valuation and turnaround methods, we determine the company's realisable value.
Proposal
We present an acquisition or restructuring proposal based on sound financial and operational strategy.
Transaction
Documents are kept simple, requiring limited guarantees and minimal compliance preparation. We handle the process quickly to preserve value.
What We Need From You
You do not need perfect books or lengthy reports.
To begin, please provide what you can of the following:
- Latest AFS (draft OK)
- Staff list with CTC + service years
- Management accounts/trial balance
- Asset register (photos help)
- Debtors list
- Inventory summary
- Outstanding orders
- Creditors list
- Instalment finance agreements
- Bank arrangements (bonds, overdrafts)
- Letters of demand/summons
- Bank statements (past 6 months)
Whatever you cannot provide – we help source or reconstruct.
Our Expertise
Gandalf Trust specialises in:
- Business acquisitions
- Turnaround strategy
- Corporate restructuring
- Business rescue advisory
- Value arbitrage & sector repositioning
- Asset-liability optimisation
- Stakeholder negotiation