Each year members of the Australian Investment Council community come together to recognise and celebrate the industry’s contribution to building better businesses.
These awards acknowledge the people and firms that demonstrate excellence in leadership, investment acumen, diversity and the broader contribution to they make to our community through their investment activities.
Fund managers, investors and advisers all participate in the awards jointly, and each nomination is judged by an independent panel of experts who assess the details of each nomination and identify the standout winners in a variety of award categories.
2019 Investing for Growth Award Winners
Venture Capital Investment - Carthona Capital for their investment in Sparesbox
Small-Cap Investment under $100 million - Anacacia Capital for their investment in Yumi's Quality Foods
Mid-Cap Investment between $100 and $250 million - Pacific Equity Partners for their investment in Manuka Health
Large-Cap Investment more than $500 million - Bain Capital for their investment in MYOB
Leadership in Diversity and Inclusion - Allegro Funds and One Ventures
Firm of the Year Winner - Anacacia Capital
Previous years Awards
Building Better Businesses Award Winners
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 - $250 million - Quadrant Private Equity for their investment in ZIP Industries
Best Upper Mid-Cap Investment between $250 - $500 million - CHAMP Private Equity for their investment in Accolade Wines
Leadership Awards
The 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
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 Australian Investment Council Awards: Best Management Buyout over $500m in 2017 and the Michael Hirshorn Award in 2013 and 2017.
Lifetime Contribution Award
Peter Wiggs