Sandy Mak Head of Corporate and M&A CORRS CHAMBERS WESTGARTH

A market-leading M&A lawyer, Sandy acts for both corporate and private equity clients across the globe on cross-border public and private mergers and acquisitions, foreign investment, equity raisings, buy-backs and restructurings.

She also advises on ASIC and ASX regulatory work, foreign investment regulations and corporate governance issues.

Sandy has consistently been listed as a leading lawyer by legal directories and publications including Chambers and Partners and Best Lawyers. In 2022 she was named Dealmaker of the Year in the Women in Law Awards, and in 2020 she was named Dealmaker of the Year in both the Lawyers Weekly Australian Law Awards and Women in Law Awards.

She is a guest lecturer at UNSW Law School in the subject of Takeovers and Capital Markets, and also lectures in Sydney University’s Masters of Law subject Takeovers and Reconstructions. She is the Takeovers and Acquisitions and Fundraising for Securities editor for the Halsburys Laws of Australia guide and is also a member of the Corporations Committee of the Law Council of Australia.

In 2021, Sandy was appointed by the Treasurer to the Takeovers Panel for a three year term.

Andrew Thompson Head of Deal Advisory (Singapore & Indonesia), Head of Private Equity (ASPAC) KPMG

Background

Andrew has 23 years of experience with KPMG principally focused on major IPO and corporate M&A transaction deal execution and project management in multiple major locations including London, New York, Sydney and Singapore.

His principal sector experience is on transactions in the Private Equity and Services sectors.

Andrew has acted as Lead Partner for KPMG on more than 350 significant transactions with an aggregate deal value of more than $150 billion. He has led many of the more complex and demanding projects KPMG has been involved with in Asia over the last ten years.

Professional and industry experience

Private Equity: As Head of Private Equity, Andrew has led projects with most leading financial sponsors including KKR, Blackstone, CVC, Carlyle, TPG, Northstar, CHAMP, CHAMP Ventures, L Capital, Catalyst, TA Associates, Goldman Sachs PIA, TH Lee, and Macquarie Bank Principal Investments.

Complex transactions: Andrew has led the project management and due diligence for many landmark public and private transactions including KKR’s acquisition of Goodpack (SGX), the Seven / Westrac Merger, KKRs acquisition of GenesisCare, the CPPIB acquisition of Macquarie Communications Infrastructure Group, Macquarie Media Group IPO, DUET’s IPO, AUSTAR’s refinancing, the global consortium acquisition and listing of Dyno Nobel, the global consortium acquisition of Boart Longyear, the consortium acquisition of the DBNGP, the acquisition by AGL of both Southern Hydro and Powerdirect.

Direct / co-investments: Andrew has assisted SWF, major pension funds and fund of funds on direct or co-investments including CPPIB, Temasek, GIC, Ontario Teachers, CalPERS, CalSTRS and HarbourVest.

Location experience: His major location experience include: London (5 Years), Sydney (13 Years) , New York (2 Years) and Singapore. In addition he has led transaction teams in across South East Asia, China, Japan, India, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and Hong Kong

John Y.S. Lee Partner LEXINGTON PARTNERS

John Lee is a Partner responsible for the Asia business of Lexington Partners. Based in Hong Kong, he is primarily engaged in the origination and evaluation of secondary purchases of private equity investments in Asia.

Prior to joining Lexington in 2014, Mr. Lee was a member of the Mergers and Acquisitions team at Morgan Stanley.

Mr. Lee graduated from Princeton University with an A.B. in Economics.

Richard Kunzer Founding Partner INTEGRUM HOLDINGS

Richard Kunzer is a Founding Partner of Integrum Holdings and member of the Investment Committee.

Previously, Richard was a Partner and Co-Head of Investor Relations for the transatlantic private investment firm BC Partners, based in New York, which he joined in 2009. Whilst at BC Partners, Richard spearheaded and was involved in the raising of over $33 billion in equity and debt capital across funds, co-investments and separately managed accounts.

Richard has led or was involved in the syndication of almost $10 billion in equity and debt co-investment in over 20 companies across the TMT, business and financial services, healthcare, consumer and retail and industrial sectors.

Other companies he previously worked at include Credit Suisse in New York and London, Paribas, and Singer & Friedlander in London, where he helped facilitate the sale of the bank to another financial services institution.

Richard has strong links across the global investor and financial sponsors community globally where he is close to senior decision makers to these organizations.

Before working in finance, Richard spent four years in the British Army as a Captain in an Armored Reconnaissance regiment. Postings included Canada and Germany, as well as an active-duty tour of Bosnia.

Originally from Newcastle upon Tyne in the north of England, Richard is a U.S. and British Citizen and has lived in New York since 2004.

He holds a B.A. Honours degree from University College London.

Frank Heckes Partner EQT PARTNERS

Frank Heckes joined EQT Partners in October 2020 and is a partner in the EQT Private Capital Asia team.

Prior to joining EQT Partners, Frank spent ten years at Archer Capital in Sydney, where he was a Partner and member of the firm’s Investment Committee. Previously, he spent five years in the private equity team of TPG Capital in London and commenced his career in the Investment Banking division of Credit Suisse First Boston in London and Melbourne. From 2016 until 2019 he also served as a Director for Australia’s peak private capital industry body, the Australian Investment Council.

Frank graduated from the University of Melbourne with Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degrees.

Joel Thickins Co-Managing Partner TPG CAPITAL ASIA

Joel Thickins is a Co-Managing Partner for TPG Capital Asia and Chairman of Capital Asia Investment Committee. TPG’s Asia business, founded in 1994, is one of the most experienced and established Asia Pacific private equity businesses, currently managing approximately US$19 billion in assets.

Joel is the current Chairman of Greencross Limited, Australia and New Zealand’s largest pet wellness and vets platform and Invocare, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore’s leading funeral service, cemeteries and crematoriums. Joel also sits on the Board for clinical research organisation Novotech Health Holdings and iNova Pharmaceuticals. Joel has previously served on the boards of Made Group, one of Australia’s largest healthy food and beverage businesses, Funlab, Australia's premiere creator of competitive socialising experiences, Ingham’s and Accolade Wines.

Joel received a Master of Business Administration, Corporate Finance, at the Melbourne Business School and Managerial Communications from Point Loma Nazarene University in 2000, and an MBA from the University of Melbourne in 2004.