News & Events

Thursday 20th September 2018: At the industry's 25th anniversary marquee annual event on Queensland's Gold Coast, the Australian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association Limited (AVCAL) handed out awards to a number of outstanding firms and industry leaders across the sector.
"The private capital investment industry in Australia plays a significant role in growing businesses, creating new jobs, and nurturing a more innovative and dynamic Australian economy, these awards recognise the contributions that make that happen, said AVCAL Chief Executive, Mr Yasser El-Ansary.
More than 450 of the private capital industry's leaders are gathered at the annual AVCAL Conference this year, with the awards event concluding two days of thought-provoking discussion and debate about the big issues which will shape the future of Australia, and global financial services markets over the next decade. "When you bring the power of our collective industry together, you see very clearly the potential for private capital investors to drive big shifts in the economy in areas such as energy, healthcare and data," added Mr El-Ansary.
Award winners in a number of categories were celebrated at tonight's event, including a number of special awards for industry pioneers who have played a role in growing private capital in Australia over the past 25 years.
"All of the award winners are leaders who have demonstrated exceptional investment execution strategy through the work they have done to grow and expand good businesses, transforming them into great businesses," said Mr El-Ansary.
Winners in all of the major award categories are set out below.

BUILDING BETTER BUSINESSES AWARDS
Best Venture Capital Investment
   Brandon Capital partners for their investment in Elastagen

Best Small-Cap Investment under $100 million (joint winners)      
   Mercury Capital for their investment in Novotech   
   Pacific Road for their investment in Aurelia Metals

Best Mid-Cap Investment between $100 and $250 million
   Quadrant Private Equity for their investment in ZIP Industries
 
Best Upper Mid-Cap Investment between $250 million and $500 million
   CHAMP Private Equity for their investment in Accolade Wines
 
LEADERSHIP AWARDS
Michael Hirshorn Award
Quadrant Private Equity for their investment in ICON Cancer Care
ICON Cancer Care is the largest provider of integrated cancer treatment in Australia by patient interactions, with a footprint of 25 cancer centres across Australia and four cancer day hospitals in Singapore serviced by over 1,200 staff. The cancer treatment provided comprises of radiation oncology, medical oncology, oncology compounding and outsourced hospital pharmacy.
The Michael Hirshorn Award acknowledges a private capital investment firm who has made a significant and enduring contribution to the public good and the community, named in honour of the late Michael Hirshorn, co-founder and CEO of Cochlear.

Private Capital Firm of the Year                                   
   Quadrant Private Equity
Quadrant Private Equity has invested in 71 companies in their 22 year history and are currently holding 16 portfolio companies. This year Preqin recognised Quadrant as the 10th most consistent top performing private equity fund manager in the world.

Leadership in Diversity Award
   M.H. Carnegie & Co

M H Carnegie and Co is a strong advocate of gender diversity within their team, and you can see through the fact that one of their longest standing business partners is women. The firm promotes flexibility in the workplace by encouraging the team to work in the most productive way to suit their circumstances, fulfilling M H Carnegie & Co's objective of retaining and growing the diversity of their talent base.

25th Anniversary Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Industry
Michael Alscher
Phil Latham
Gareth Banks
Sandy Lockhart
Cameron Blanks
Greg Minton
John Brakey
Callen O'Brien
Peter Chapman
George Penklis
Bob Christiansen
Andrew Rothery
John Dyson
Tim Sims
Patrick Elliott
Joe Skrzynski AO
Paul Evans
Judith Smith
Bill Ferris AC
Greg Smith
Chris Hadley
Brigitte Smith
Rupert Harrington
Stuart Wardman-Browne
Robert Inglis
Peter Wiggs
Anthony Kerwick
John White
Julian Knights
 

Best Investment of the Last 25 Years - special recognition
   JAFCO for their investment in ResMed
   Pacific Equity Partners for their investment in Frucor Beverages
   Macquarie Direct Investment for their investment in JB Hi-Fi
   CHAMP Ventures for their investment in Amdel
   Archer Capital and Bain Capital for their investment in MYOB
   Brandon Capital Partners and GBS Ventures for their investment in Spinifex Pharmaceuticals
   Anacacia Capital for their investment in Appen.
   AMWIN for their investment in SEEK

Best Investment of the Last 25 Years (joint winners)
   Advent Partners and KKR for their investment in GenesisCare

GenesisCare provides high-quality, specialised care to patients with cancer and cardiovascular disease - Australia's two most chronic diseases. Advent Partners invested in GenesisCare in 2009. While in partnership with Advent, the business significantly grew its national footprint and developed a unique shareholding structure by allowing key doctors to own a majority of the shares while retaining responsibility for management of clinics. In 2012, it was sold to KKR, who took the company into its next phase of growth, including expansion into overseas markets. Over the last five years, GenesisCare has won three AVCAL Awards: Best Management Buyout over $500m in 2017 and the Michael Hirshorn Award in 2013 and 2017.

Lifetime Contribution Award
   Peter Wiggs

 

Article Care of AVCAL Website: avcal.com.au