Investment Manager

Established in 2004, Vantage Asset Management Pty Limited is a leading independent investment management company with expertise in private equity, funds management, manager selection and operational management.

Vantage is Australian owned and domiciled with operations in Sydney and Melbourne and holds Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) No. 279186.

Vantage provides investors access to the high-performance Private Equity asset class and offers professional investment management and advisory services to institutions and sophisticated investors seeking a diversified investment approach to private equity investing.

Vantage’s objective as an investment manager is to provide investors with attractive, risk-adjusted returns by selecting the most attractive private equity regions, targeting the optimal mix of financing stages and investing in the top performing private equity managers. Each member of Vantage’s investment team has extensive direct deal experience, which when combined with their knowledge of best practices in funds management gives them a unique insight into the investment strategies and processes employed by the managers’ Vantage selects to invest with.

There are several factors that distinguish Vantage and its position as the preferred investment manager for its clients’ private equity investments:
Long-term Relationships

Over the past 20 years, Vantage’s executives have built deep relationships with leading private equity sponsors, many of whose funds can be difficult or impossible to access for new investors. Relationships and the ability to access certain investment opportunities play a critical role in the private equity investment process. The longevity and continuity of Vantage’s team has enabled it to cultivate relationships with many of the top tier and exclusive fund managers, positioning Vantage managed funds as both preferred prospective investors and investment partners.

Proven Investment Strategy

Vantage only invests in the private equity asset class and is focused on investing only in funds targeting the later expansion and buyout financing stages of private equity globally that have consistently delivered strong returns to investors. Vantage expects its managed fund investors to benefit from this strategy, which has been developed by Vantage’s executives over several investment, capital market, credit and macroeconomic cycles of the past decade.

Stable & Experienced Investment Team

One of the important attributes of Vantage is its experienced and cohesive core executive team. This dedicated team is focused exclusively on the private equity asset class on a global basis. Vantage’s core executive team have worked/invested together for more than 20 years and have more than 50 years of collective industry experience.

Independence

Vantage is owned and controlled by its investment executives. This independent ownership allows its investment professionals to maintain their focus on selecting private equity investments with the strongest potential for returns without any conflicts of interest.

Vantage’s senior executives have backgrounds in strategy, finance, banking, executive management, operations, corporate development and funds management. With global reach and influential business relationships, Vantage provides a base of powerful expertise and resources that it extends to its clients.
The Vantage executives who will be responsible for the management and reporting obligations of the Fund and who also serve as members on the VPEG5 Investment Committee are as follows:

MICHAEL TOBIN

MANAGING DIRECTOR, BE, MBA, DFS. (FINANCIAL MARKETS)

Michael is responsible for the development and management of all private equity fund investment activity at Vantage and its authorised representatives, and has managed Vantage’s funds share of investment into over $13.5 billion of Australian Private Equity funds resulting in more than $8.5 billion of equity funding across 140 underlying portfolio companies.

Michael is also responsible for the operational and compliance management of all Vantage managed funds and investment vehicles. Michael has over 30 years’ experience in private equity management, advisory and investment as well as in management operations. Michael was formerly Head of Development Capital
and Private Equity at St George Bank where he was responsible for the management and ultimate sale of the bank’s commitments and investments in $140m worth
of St George branded private equity funds. Michael also established the St George Bank’s private equity advisory business, which structured and raised private equity for corporate customers of the bank. Michael has arranged and advised on direct private equity investments into more than 40 separate private companies in Australia across a range of industry sectors.

Michael holds a BE (UNSW), an MBA (AGSM) and a Diploma of Financial Services (AFMA) and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

DAVID PULLINI

DIRECTOR, BE, MBA

David is a Director of Vantage and has more than 25 years of general management, business development, investment, advisory, acquisitions and divestment experience.

In 2005 David was a founding partner of O’Sullivan Pullini, a firm that became recognised as a leading boutique investment bank in Australia. O’Sullivan Pullini completed M&A transactions worth over A$10 billion in value across multiple industry sectors and to a broad cross-section of clients. The firm was particularly active in advising in the private equity space, including successful advisory mandates for Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) on the acquisition of the Australian businesses of Cleanaway and Brambles Industrial Services from Brambles Industries, the establishment of a A$4 billion joint venture with the Seven Network and the later divestment of Cleanaway.
Prior to co-founding O’Sullivan Pullini, David managed international corporate businesses for fifteen years in Australia and Europe. For the eight years, David was based in Europe, he managed a portfolio of Brambles European based businesses. David has deep experience and understanding of the key drivers of profitable business growth and the levers of value creation.

David holds a BE Hons. (UTS), an MBA (IMD) and a Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance (SIA)