Assessing your business stage, when you should hunt for money, and your capital options – ‘Smart’ money? Debt finance?
What motivates investors to choose any particular investment opportunity: What are investors in green investment, and early stage start-up investments, looking for? What about investors in established businesses hunting for capital for next stage growth?
What factors are contributing to NZ’s high performing export economy and growth in this space?
Does NZ have advantages for international investors looking for investments as a result of our Covid response and (comparative) “business as usual” position?
What happens when the cheap money ends?
What’s the outlook for investment and M&A activity in New Zealand?
Speakers
Raynor McMahon
Executive Director, Cube Credit
Raynor has over 20 years banking experience across all forms of corporate and institutional lending. Prior to setting up Cube Credit, Raynor’s role was Executive Director, Head of Loans for Westpac Institutional Bank based in Auckland. Raynor’s team had responsibility for originating, structuring, executing and portfolio management for all forms of debt product including leveraged & acquisition finance, project finance, and corporate & institutional lending, including bilateral, club and syndicated loans. Prior to Westpac, Raynor was Head of Specialised Finance at Bank of New Zealand. During his banking career Raynor has worked in Auckland, Wellington, Sydney and London for various banks and has always had a focus on creative bespoke structuring of debt to meet desired client outcomes.
Cube Credit is a specialist debt advisory firm that works with public and private companies to raise debt capital from banks and other private credit providers. Recently Raynor and his partners have established a NZ private credit fund, Aotea Asset Management, focused on providing debt capital to mid market NZ companies.
Randal Barrett
Managing Director, Pioneer Capital
Randal co-founded Pioneer Capital in 2005 and leads the firm’s external relationships and investment sourcing and management activities. Pioneer Capital partners with owners and managers of private exporting businesses by providing support and capital in the form of private equity or private debt that primarily funds growth, which may include acquisitions, and may also be a bridge to public markets, a refinancing or a change of ownership. Pioneer Capital has raised $870 million to date and invested in 23 New Zealand businesses in the export economy, that have gone on to make 18 bolt-on acquisitions and achieve 5 IPOs and 11 ownership transitions.
Prior to Pioneer Capital, Randal was an Investment Manager in the office of a private US investor in London, CEO of a Morgan Stanley-backed telecoms company operating in Scandinavia and Europe, and an Associate at Baker McKenzie’s London office, after starting his career with Simpson Grierson in Auckland.
Rob Vickery
Founder and Managing Partner, Hillfarrance Venture Capital
Rob is the Founder and Managing Partner at Hillfarrance Venture Capital and an entrepreneur-turned-VC who has been investing at the frontiers of enterprise technology since 2012.
Hillfarrance invests in Kiwi entrepreneurs who are solving the hardest global problems that matter. Hillfarrance is focused on becoming the most recommended source of early stage capital by founders, for founders.
Prior to creating Hillfarrance, Rob was the Founding Partner of one of Los Angeles’ most active enterprise software venture funds, Stage Venture Partners.
He is married to Diana and they have two sons, Arthur and James, and a Siberian Husky named Luna.
Cecilia Tarrant
Chair of the Board of Directors, New Zealand Green Investment Finance
Cecilia is passionate about making New Zealand a better place and empowering future leaders. With a background in international capital markets, banking and law, she has established herself as a professional company director since returning from overseas in 2010. Cecilia is the Chair of New Zealand Green Investment Finance, a company established by the New Zealand Government to accelerate low emissions investment in New Zealand. She is also a Director of Seeka and Payments NZ, a Member of The University of Auckland Council and a Trustee of The University of Auckland Foundation.
Outside of governance, Cecilia focuses on investing in start-ups and on mentoring. She chairs ArcAngels, an early-stage investor network that invests in, and supports, women-led businesses. Cecilia also leads Women’s Mentoring Programmes at the University of Auckland Business School and Law School.
Kerri Dewe (Chair)
Partner, Tompkins Wake
Kerri is an experienced corporate and commercial lawyer who joined Tompkins Wake in 2020 as a partner. Kerri is a proactive and effective professional who is often commended by clients for her responsiveness and project contributions. Her skills have been recognised by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2020 as 'Next Generation Partner' and 'Recommended Lawyer' for 2021.
Kerri has a successful practice focused on transactional M&A matters and other corporate and commercial work, including negotiating significant commercial contracts, business structuring and advisory work, securities legislation and regulatory compliance matters.
Kerri works with clients across a range of industries, from start-ups to SMEs to leading corporates, private companies, listed companies, private equity funds, financial institutions and professional services firms. Her broad corporate and commercial experience, including valuable perspective she gained working within various commercial organisations as an in-house counsel, means she is an effective advisor to businesses.