A crystalline precursor compound for manufacturing a lithium transition metal based oxide powder usable as an active positive electrode material in lithium-ion batteries, the precursor having a general formula Li1−a((Niz(Ni0.5Mn0.5)yCox)1−kAk)1+aO2, wherein A comprises at least one element of the group consisting of: Mg, Al, Ca, Si, B, W, Zr, Ti, Nb, Ba, and Sr, with 0.05≤x≤0.40, 0.25≤z≤0.85, x+y+z=1, 0≤k≤0.10, and 0≤a≤0.053, wherein said crystalline precursor powder has a crystalline size L, expressed in nm, with 15≤L≤36.