At Chantilly Investment Partners, we believe successful investing requires more than capital. It requires disciplined underwriting, operational execution, aligned partnerships, and long-term perspective.
Our advantage lies in the complementary strengths of our leadership.
Institutional Capital Markets Meets Hands-On Operational Leadership
Charlie Santos-Buch brings more than four decades of global investment banking and private equity experience, with over $30 billion in financings and M&A transactions. His background in sponsor-backed transactions, capital structuring, lender relationships, and board governance ensures disciplined deal sourcing, sophisticated structuring, and thoughtful exit positioning.
Elmer Laydon complements that institutional capital markets expertise with deep financial, operational, and entrepreneurial experience. As a CPA, operator, and founder of multiple businesses, Elmer brings hands-on experience in scaling companies, strengthening internal controls, optimizing margins, and professionalizing financial infrastructure.
Together, this combination bridges the gap between Wall Street execution and Main Street operations.
We Underwrite Like Investors — and Operate Like Owners
Chantilly’s independent sponsor model allows us to remain disciplined and selective. We focus on opportunities where operational improvement, financial rigor, and strategic growth initiatives can materially increase enterprise value.
We:
- Apply institutional underwriting standards to lower-middle-market opportunities
- Structure transactions thoughtfully, aligning incentives across capital partners and management
- Implement disciplined financial reporting and governance frameworks
- Partner closely with founders and management teams
- Focus on sustainable EBITDA growth, not financial engineering
Alignment Drives Results
We invest alongside our capital partners and management teams, ensuring alignment at every stage of the investment lifecycle. Our approach is long-term, partnership-driven, and grounded in fiduciary responsibility.
We do not rely solely on leverage.
We do not chase volume.
We build value.
Experience Across the Full Investment Lifecycle
From sourcing and diligence through structuring, operational scaling, and exit execution, our combined experience spans:
- Founder-owned business acquisitions
- Sponsor-backed recapitalizations
- Capital-intensive operating environments
- Board-level governance and oversight
- Complex financing structures
- Growth initiatives and strategic repositioning
This breadth of experience allows Chantilly to evaluate risk comprehensively and execute with confidence.