Mergermarket M&A Forum Australia 2023
The premier M&A forum in Australia
Four Seasons Hotel, Sydney and Online
16
Mar
Australian private equity - a maturing market
Amidst global uncertainties and public market volatility, the private equity industry in Australia remains active, with an abundance of capital that is waiting to be deployed. Whilst capital continues to be raised and PE sponsors continue to be sitting on high levels of dry powder, falling rates, competition from strategic buyers, cost of debt, and the effective closure of the IPO market as an exit path all serve as obstacles that may impact getting deals done. Our panel of private equity veterans will unpack the opportunity set that remains in the region and discuss what lies on the horizon in the year ahead.
- How has the PE industry changed in Australia in the past year? Are we seeing fewer big buyouts and more trade sales, take-privates, bolt-on acquisitions, and tertiary buyouts?
- Where are offshore and regional GPs still finding the best opportunities, such as taking advantage of low valuations of small-cap software companies, and is Australia still seen as a relatively safe haven from global headwinds?
- Private equity vs strategic buyers - has there been more competition for assets?
- What is the outlook for the rest of the year including opportunities on the horizon and potential pitfalls?
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SpeakersTim Burroughs Managing Editor Global Private Funds, and Managing Editor, AVCJ MERGERMARKET
Michael Blickstead Head of Australia / New Zealand Private Equity BLACKSTONE
Katie Wood Managing Director ADAMANTEM
Simon Pither Managing Director QUADRANT PRIVATE EQUITY
Matt Robinson Managing Director PACIFIC EQUITY PARTNERS
Symon Vegter Partner and Co-Head of Responsible Investing ADVENT PARTNERS
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Tim Burroughs is managing editor of Asian Venture Capital Journal, having joined the publication in May 2011. He is responsible for all editorial content put out under the AVCJ brand, including Asian Venture Capital Journal, AVCJtv, AVCJ Awards and AVCJ.com. Tim previously spent five years at China Economic Review, serving as editor-in-chief and then editorial director. Located in Greater China since 2003, during which time he has lived in Beijing, Qingdao and Hong Kong, Tim has been a China-based contributor for publications including The Sunday Times, Sunday Telegraph, BBC and China Daily. Prior to moving to China, he trained and worked as a journalist in the UK. He was honored at the Society of Publishers in Asia awards in 2007, 2008 and 2010, and at the State Street Institutional Press Awards - Asia in 2012.
Michael Blickstead is a Senior Managing Director in the Private Equity Group based in Sydney and Head of Australia / New Zealand Private Equity.
Before joining Blackstone, Mr. Blickstead was a Division Director / Managing Director and Head of Principal Finance Asia Pacific for Macquarie Group where he invested across the capital structure. Prior to that, he was an Investment Director at Archer Capital, one of Australia’s leading domestic private equity firms. Mr. Blickstead started his career in the Private Equity Group at Goldman Sachs in New York and London.
Mr. Blickstead received a Bachelor of Arts, cum laude in Economics, from Harvard University as well as an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Katie Wood is a Managing Director at Adamantem Capital. Katie has investment banking, corporate development and strategy experience from her time working for Macquarie from 2011-2015. Katie sits on the board of Linen Services Australia and NAK.
She received a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) from the University of Queensland.
Simon Pither joined Quadrant Private Equity in May 2008 from Melbourne-based mid-market private equity fund, Advent Private Capital. Prior to this Simon worked for Credit Agricole Indosuez Private Equity in London, investing in mid-market private equity and mezzanine opportunities.
Simon works in the Quadrant Growth Fund, currently investing the $530m QGF2, and is on the Board of QGF1 and QGF2 portfolio companies across consumer, healthcare and technology sectors.
Matt joined Pacific Equity Partners in 2009. Prior to joining PEP, he was a consultant with Bain & Company in Australia. Matt was an Innovation Scholar at Macquarie University where he received a Bachelor of Commerce (Actuarial Studies) and was awarded the Vice Chancellor’s Commendation for Academic Excellence.
Symon joined Advent in 2007 and has more than 21 years of experience in the private equity and financial advisory industries. While at Advent, he has partnered with numerous founders to help them with strategy, growth and building their businesses. He also co-heads Advent’s Responsible Investing program. Symon is currently a director of Zero Latency VR, Flintfox and Frosty Boy. Prior to joining Advent Partners, Symon was a corporate advisor with KPMG in Melbourne focusing on capital raisings, M&A, turnarounds and restructurings. He holds a Master of Applied Finance from Macquarie University and a Bachelor of Commerce from Melbourne University. He is an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and a Senior Associate of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia. He is also a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.