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Pacific Equity Partners

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Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) is a private equity investment firm focusing on transactions in Australia and New Zealand. PEP invests across a range of industries and sectors, in turnaround and growth capital transactions. By 2023, The Australian Financial Review reported PEP to be Australia's largest private equity firm.[1]

Pacific Equity Partners
Company typeProprietary limited company
IndustryPrivate Equity
Founded1998; 26 years ago (1998)
Founders
  • Rickard Gardell
  • Paul McCullagh
  • Simon Pillar
  • Tim Sims
HeadquartersSydney, Australia
Products
AUMA$10 billion (2022)
Websitewww.pep.com.au

It is also said to be Australia's oldest private equity company.[2] The firm, based in Sydney, was founded in 1998 by Rickard Gardell, Paul McCullagh, Simon Pillar and Tim Sims. All but McCullagh previously worked together as executives at Bain & Company.[3][4]

PEP has generated several buyout funds for investors. By 2022, these funds had $8.6 billion under management.[5] The launch of a continuation fund that year lifted this figure to $10 billion.[6]

In 2023, the firm announced its first "Gateway fund" which it described as a mechanism by which private investors may access global private equity investing, with reduced initial investment requirements.[7] In this approach, capital is distributed into PEP funds alongside funds from high-end global private equity firms such as Bain Capital and Leonard Green & Partners.[8]

PEP opened its seventh buyout fund, called Fund VII, in 2024, expecting to close later that year at A$3 billion.[1][9] This would be one of the largest Australian funds of its kind.[1]

Investments

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Frucor, who now produce Mizone drinks, was the first investment made by the firm.

Since its establishment in 1998, the firm is understood to have completed 40 private equity buyouts by 2023.[2] Apart from buying and operating large companies, PEP has made 100 "bolt-on" acquisitions in the same 25-period, these are smaller firms, bought and merged with portfolio companies, for their strategic value.[10] Some of the firm's recent investments have included Patties Foods,[11] iNova Pharmaceuticals,[12] the medical devices group LifeHealthcare,[13] the smart metering company IntelliHUB,[14] and Evolution Healthcare.[15]

PEP claims to have "at least doubled" investor monies in 12 of its previous 13 deals, which have included the purchase, restructure and resale of several Australian and New Zealand companies such as Spotless, Hoyts and Frucor.[2][16] The one business in this set that did not double its value was Patties, being resold at a multiple of 1.7, due to low post-Covid earnings for that food group.[17][9]

Investment products

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PEP invites investors to access the value their corporate acquisitions generate. This is through five product sets, described as "investment strategies."[18][19]

  1. Private Equity—traditional flagship buyout fund.[20] Its most recent buyout being the allied health company Healthia in December 2023.[20] As of 2024, there have been seven funds in this strategy, of which Fund I, II, III, IV, V have been completed, Fund VI is fully invested, and Fund VII is open.[20][2]
  2. Secure Assets—spun out of private equity fund, focusing on infrastructure-like companies with protected cashflows.[21] Two funds have been established in the strategy, SAF I and SAF II.[22][23] One of the investors in the latter is the Clean Energy Finance Corporation.[22]
  3. Capital Solutions—a private debt strategy, sold with management input, plus senior secured loans.[19] The funds in this strategy offer a portfolio of loans offered to mid sized businesses in Australia and New Zealand.[19]
  4. Single Assets—single assets from co-mingled fund, put into its own continuation vehicle.[24] Target investments in these group have included Intellihub.[24]
  5. PEP Gateway—a portfolio of premium global private equity funds with a lower initial investment requirement.[25] Here, private investors may access a "fund of funds", exposing them to larger private equity outfits such as Bain Capital, Brookfield Corporation and Carlyle Group.[24]

PEP Gateway is the firm's most recent investment strategy, launched publicly in 2022.[24]

Target investments as of 2024

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The following schedule indicates the businesses PEP has targeted and acquired and which they continue to own and manage, current to February 2024.

Investment Year Acquired Description of Transaction Refs.
ATOM 2023 Purchase of an 80% stake in the industrial safety and cleaning equipment company, to be held in Fund VII [26][27]
Zenith Energy 2020 Public to Private. Agreed in March 2020, with PEP acquiring the thermal and sustainable power company at $1.01 per share, valuing Zenith's equity at A$150 million at that point. Business now held in the PEP fund known as "SAF I." [28][29]
Magentus 2020 Public to Private. The health technology formerly known as Citadel Group ASX was delisted in deal led by PEP, as part of a $500 million transaction. Business now held in a fund known as Fund VI. [30][31]
Modern Star 2020 Secondary buyout. Educational resources company acquired in September 2020, valuing its assets at $600 million. Now held in a PEP fund known as Fund VI. [32]
Healthe Care 2021 Corporate Carve-out. The private hospital business had been part of China-owned Luye Pharma Group (which retained the Mental Health service arm, renaming it Aurora Healthcare). Now held in a PEP fund known as Fund VI. [33]
Agright 2022 Private Vendor. New Zealand based poultry business acquired into the secure assets fund known as SAF I. [34][1]

[35]

Intellihub 2022 Secondary. The 'smart metering' business Smart Metering Fund. Held in the PEP fund known as SAF II. [36][37]
Cranky Health 2022 Private Vendor. PEP acquired controlling stake in the weight loss products business, with Adam MacDougall retaining his minority stake. Valuation said to be $200 million, or 10 to 12 times earnings. Held in Fund VI. [38]
Altus Traffic 2022 Private Vendor. Traffic management business sold by its founder and chair David Lundberg, for what was said to be $200 million, then on-sold 50% of equity to Brookfield Corporation at $3 billion including debt. Stake is held in Fund VI. [39]
iNova Pharmaceuticals 2022 Corporate Multinational Carve-Out. Co-investment with TPG Inc. in the consumer healthcare products, its value estimated at $2 billion. Held in fund known as Fund VI. [2][40]
UP Education 2023 Secondary. Australasian private education provider with 30 campuses was first purchased by PEP in 2016, following leveraged buy out, valued at NZ$540 million in 2023, it has been held in the fund known as Education SPV. [41][42][43]
This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Past investments

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Hoyts was held as an investment for eight years, before being sold to Wanda Cinemas.
 
Allied Mills, a major supplier of flour to Australian bakeries, was sold to Nissin Foods in 2019.

In its early years, the firm's investments were dominated by companies in Australia and New Zealand's food and beverages sector.[2] These target businesses included Allied Pinnacle (sold to Nissin Foods in 2019), Frucor (sold to Suntory in 2008), Peters Ice Cream (sold to Froneri in 2014), Tegel Foods (acquired in 2005 from Heinz and sold to Affinity Equity Partners in 2011), Independent Liquor (sold to Asahi Breweries in 2011),[44] and Griffin's Foods (acquired from Danone in 2006 and Universal Robina in 2014 and then sold to Intersnack in 2021),[45][46] Education and health care, which would later become an investment themes, began with the purchase of the ACG business and Manuka Health, both from New Zealand.[47][2] Many investments have followed the company's stated goal to purchase businesses of up to $1 billion, lifting financial performance in a five year period, then selling at a multiple.[2]

Investment Year Acquired Description of Transaction Refs.
Hoyts 2007 Purchase valued Hoyts' Australian and New Zealand operations at $440 million, then on-sold to Wanda Cinemas in 2015 for approximately $1 billion. [48][49]
Independent Liquor 2006 Purchased in partnership with Unitas Capital for $600 million, later sold to Asahi Breweries for $1.3 billion in 2011. [50][51]
Griffin's Foods 2006 Acquired from Danone in 2006 for NZ$385 million and sold to Universal Robina in 2014 for A$650 million, later sold to Intersnack in 2021 for A$580 million. [52][53]
Frucor 1998 The first investment made by the firm. Purchased for $NZ67 million, later sold to Suntory in 2008 for A$1.28 billion. [54][55]
Peters Ice Cream 2012 Terms of the deal not disclosed. Was held in their Fund IV before sale to Froneri in 2014, for just under $450 million. [56][57]
Tegel Foods 2005 Acquired from Heinz for $250 million, later sold to Affinity Equity Partners in 2011 for $600 million. [58]
WINconnect 2019 Purchase of community energy network provider for deal understood to be worth around $100 million. Sold to Origin Energy in 2021.[59] [60]
Manuka Health 2015 Food and healthcare firm saw business transformation recognised for quality management and responsible investing.[61] Purchased in 2015 at NZ$110 million, sold to Hong Leong Group for A$200 million. [62][63]

[64]

Allied Pinnacle 2015-17 Acquired Pinnacle Bakery & Integrated Solutions ($200 million), a maker of bakery ingredients and frozen baked products, from Kerry Group in 2015, before adding Allied Mills ($455 million, including debt) in March 2017. Sold to Japan's Nissin Foods for approximately $1 billion in February 2019. [65][66]
ACG 2015 NZ private education provider purchased for NZ$530 in 2015. Divested in 2018 for approximately NZ$500 million to UK-based Inspired Education Holdings. [67][68][69]

History and culture

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Pacific Equity Partners is based in Deutsche Bank Place, close to Sydney Harbour

Pacific Equity Partners was founded in Sydney, Australia, in 1998.[70] The founders came from the consulting and banking sectors: Rickard Gardell, Tim Sims, Simon Pillar all from Bain & Company; and Paul McCullagh, from Salomon Brothers.[71] While McCullagh stepped back from management operations in 2017, as of 2023 all four had remained in the partnership.[71]

Some industry commentators have described PEP as having an 'apprenticeship' culture, with long-standing founders and senior staff deliberately hiring junior employees, as it enables cultural formation within the firm over a long tenure.[2] Staff longevity and team-based approaches to deals, likened to a management consulting ethos, may have helped make the firm distinctive in its market.[72][2]

The company's headquarters are in Deutsche Bank Place, Sydney, the first building in the Southern Hemisphere designed by Sir Norman Foster.[73][74]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "PEP prepares biggest fund to date, pitches proven money-making prowess". Australian Financial Review. 30 October 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "The 'apprenticeship' culture that drives Australia's biggest PE firm, Pacific Equity Partners". Australian Financial Review. 30 July 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  3. ^ "Australia's Private-Equity Deals for the New Year". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  4. ^ Wilson, Drew. "Privately Speaking: Tim Sims of Pacific Equity Partners". Private Equity International. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  5. ^ Thomson, James (2 May 2022). "PEP's $10b moment heralds private equity's new era". Australian Financial Review.
  6. ^ Mendoza, Carmela (24 July 2018). "Pacific Equity Partners on why the Australian mid-market is thriving". Private Equity International. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  7. ^ "Pacific Equity Partners invites the wealthy into 'privileged' PE club". Australian Financial Review. 28 May 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  8. ^ Weinman, Aaron (7 November 2023). "Fund that returned 23pc targets billions in investment". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  9. ^ a b "PEP flags $1.5 billion-plus first close for Fund VII raise". Australian Financial Review. 19 April 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  10. ^ Mendoza, Carmen. "Pacific Equity Partners on why the Australian mid-market is thriving". Private Equity International. PEI Media.
  11. ^ “PEP in advanced discussions to acquire ASX listed Patties Foods” "Australian Financial Review", 29 May 2016.
  12. ^ “iNova sold to PEP, the Carlyle Group” "Australian Financial Review", 9 June 2017.
  13. ^ “Allens advises PEP on acquisition of LifeHealthcare” from Allens Media Release, 25 May 2018.
  14. ^ “Landis+Gyr and Pacific Equity Partners announce joint venture for acquisition of acumen metering business” from Landis+Gyr media release, 24 May 2018.
  15. ^ “North Island Hospitals sold to new Australian Owners” in Stuff.co.nz on 25 September 2018.
  16. ^ Cole, BRETT (24 February 2014). "PEP yet to ask banks for Spotless pitches". The Australian.
  17. ^ Carter, Bridget (2 February 2022). "Pandemic takes toll on consumer goods deals; Patties sale pushed back". The Australian. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  18. ^ Kitney, Damon (4 June 2023). "The smart money's on artificial intelligence". The Australian.
  19. ^ a b c "Pacific Equity Partners unveils new strategy: capital solutions". Australian Financial Review. 25 March 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  20. ^ a b c "How to pull off a seamless private equity buyout". Australian Financial Review. 8 January 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  21. ^ "Pacific Equity Partners' gun SAF team seek exclusivity on $1b deal". Australian Financial Review. 20 July 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  22. ^ a b "PEP hits $1.4b for second secure assets fund, CEFC tips in". Australian Financial Review. 7 May 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  23. ^ "Pacific Equity Partners' gun SAF team seek exclusivity on $1b deal". Australian Financial Review. 20 July 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  24. ^ a b c d "PEP Gateway fund-of-funds goes in with Bain, Brookfield and Carlyle". Australian Financial Review. 18 April 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  25. ^ "Pacific Equity Partners invites the wealthy into 'privileged' PE club". Australian Financial Review. 28 May 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  26. ^ "Private equity sweeps up industrials supplies group ATOM". Australian Financial Review. 8 January 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  27. ^ "QIC's private debt unit cuts cheque for PEP's ATOM acquisition". Australian Financial Review. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  28. ^ "Pacific Equity Partners' gun SAF team seek exclusivity on $1b deal". Australian Financial Review. 20 July 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  29. ^ "Private equity comes for listed power play Zenith Energy". Australian Financial Review. 8 March 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  30. ^ Stensholt, John (12 June 2023). "Catching 'falling knives' delivers $1bn success". The Australian.
  31. ^ Leung, Edith (20 February 2024). "Q&A: Australia's Pacific Equity Partners on take-privates, carve-outs, continuation funds". ION Analytics. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  32. ^ "Biebs alert! PEP taps new fund, two lenders for Modern Star". Australian Financial Review. 7 September 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  33. ^ Carter, Bridget (11 July 2023). "Pacific Equity Partners gets ready for Aurora Healthcare auction". The Australian.
  34. ^ Carter, Bridget (4 April 2023). "Pacific Equity Partners walks away from $900 Serenitas buy". The Australian.
  35. ^ "PE hotshots: The top 20 under 40 in 2021". Australian Financial Review. 28 December 2021. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  36. ^ "ESG Loan: Intellihub's A$1.45bn green financing | IFR". IFRe. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  37. ^ "Pacific Equity Partners targets mid-market infrastructure decarbonisation - Clean Energy Finance Corporation". www.cefc.com.au. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  38. ^ "Pacific Equity Partners sips on The Man Shake owner Cranky Health". Australian Financial Review. 30 January 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  39. ^ Loussikian, Kylar (22 August 2022). "PEP snaps up Altus Traffic, more M&A afoot". The Australian.
  40. ^ "TPG Capital to buy iNova for $2b-plus; PEP to co-invest". Australian Financial Review. 26 July 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  41. ^ "Overseas investment decision for case 202300267 - UP Education Bidco Limited | Toitū Te Whenua - Land Information New Zealand". www.linz.govt.nz. 23 June 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  42. ^ "Australia's Pacific Equity Partners closes $265m continuation fund: Report". DealStreetAsia. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  43. ^ Croft, Lauren (10 August 2022). "Up Education Group receives NZ$540m funding injection". www.lawyersweekly.com.au. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  44. ^ "Asahi to Buy New Zealand Liquor Company". DealBook. 18 August 2011. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  45. ^ "Pacific Equity Mulling Options for Tegel Foods". DealBook. 20 August 2010. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  46. ^ "Pacific Equity buys Griffin's Foods". The Age. 1 April 2006. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  47. ^ Thompson, Sarah (7 September 2020). "PEP to buy Modern Star's Australian, NZ business for $600m". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  48. ^ "Hoyts to be sold to private equity group". ABC News. 24 September 2007. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  49. ^ "Credit Suisse finds PE bids for Hoyts; Wanda mulls next move". Australian Financial Review. 3 May 2021. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  50. ^ Dealbook (18 August 2011). "Asahi to Buy New Zealand Liquor Company". DealBook. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  51. ^ "Asahi snaps up Independent". Australian Financial Review. 17 August 2011. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  52. ^ "Pacific Equity buys Griffin's Foods". The Age. 1 April 2006. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  53. ^ Yueyang, Maggie Lu (21 July 2014). "PEP sells NZ biscuit-maker Griffin's for $NZ700 million". The Australian.
  54. ^ Anand, Sameera (27 October 2008). "Suntory wins Danone's Frucor business". FinanceAsia. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  55. ^ "Private Equity Partners and Unitas Capital to pay Asahi $199m". Australian Financial Review. 17 November 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  56. ^ "PEP jettisons Peters Ice Cream for close to $450m". Australian Financial Review. 27 May 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  57. ^ "PEP starts wooing investors for next fund". Australian Financial Review. 10 October 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  58. ^ McNabb, Denise. "PEP eyes big NZ poultry investment". businessdesk.co.nz. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  59. ^ Evans, Lauren (20 December 2021). "Origin Energy (ASX:ORG) to acquire WINconnect for $42.4m". Finance News Network. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  60. ^ "PEP gets energised ahead of long Village Roadshow tilt". Australian Financial Review. 19 December 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  61. ^ "AVCJ Awards 2018: Responsible Investment: Manuka Health | AVCJ". www.avcj.com. 18 December 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  62. ^ "Pacific Equity Partners secures sale for Manuka Health; ANZ advises buyer". Australian Financial Review. 27 September 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  63. ^ Meadows, Richard (29 February 2016). "Private equity firm pays $110 million for Manuka Health NZ, OIO approves sale". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  64. ^ Carter, Bridget (28 September 2018). "Manuka Health sale". The Australian.
  65. ^ "PEP secures just under $1b for flour, baked goods maker Allied Pinnacle". Australian Financial Review. 27 February 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  66. ^ Murdoch, Scott (20 March 2019). "PEP leads way as funds sit on record $10bn". The Australian.
  67. ^ Hancock, Farah (22 June 2018). "Sale rumoured for prestige schools". Newsroom. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  68. ^ "PEP exclusive on $NZ530m deal to acquire Academic Colleges Group". Australian Financial Review. 26 August 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  69. ^ Chan, Vinicy; Baigorri, Manuel (20 September 2018). "Inspired Is Said to Near Acquisition of ACG's Schools Unit". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  70. ^ "This float could create Australia's first private equity billionaire". Australian Financial Review. 3 May 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  71. ^ a b Glascow, Will; Lacy, Christine (21 December 2017). "Paul McCullagh steps back at Pacific Equity Partners". The Australian.
  72. ^ "Where I'm putting the money: Pacific Equity Partners' Tim Sims on why he thinks we're past the worst". Forbes Australia. 3 July 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  73. ^ "Eye spy from the glass sky of snappy Deutsche Bank Place". Australian Financial Review. 1 September 2005. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  74. ^ "Towers of power". Australian Financial Review. 14 April 2007. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
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