Best Private Equity Firms in Australia

Australia Private Equity Firms & Investors

Sydney’s harbour-front financial towers, Melbourne’s institutional investment networks, Brisbane’s expanding mid-market ecosystem, and Perth’s resource-driven capital corridors collectively shape Australia’s distinctive private equity landscape. Across states, private equity firms are doing more than deploying capital — they are professionalising founder-led businesses, modernising governance standards, and guiding companies through disciplined expansion both domestically and into Asia-Pacific markets.

Australia’s private equity market may be geographically distant from North America and Europe, but it is globally connected, operationally pragmatic, and deeply relationship-driven. The firms shaping this ecosystem understand that sustainable growth in Australia often means navigating cross-border trade, sector concentration in resources and healthcare, and a mid-market dominated by founder-operators.

At Digital Reference, we look closely at the people behind the capital. We assess leadership credibility, operational involvement, communication transparency, and how firms partner with management teams beyond financial engineering.

Private equity should not operate in opacity. That belief sits at the centre of this curated list.

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🐨 Our Methodology: How We Selected These Australian Private Equity Firms

This is not a ranking, and it is not sponsored placement.

Each firm featured here was selected through detailed qualitative and quantitative research, including website analysis, leadership review, public track record assessment, and evaluation of operating philosophy. We prioritised Australian-based firms that actively support portfolio companies through outsourced, fractional, part-time, or virtual engagement models.

Our evaluation criteria included:

🧠 Founder or managing partner–led involvement
📊 Demonstrated growth track record in the Australian mid-market
🔍 Clear sector thesis and portfolio strategy
🤝 Hands-on operational support beyond capital
🗣 Transparent governance and communication practices
🌏 Capacity to scale companies regionally and globally

The firms below reflect Australia’s modern private equity profile: pragmatic, sector-aware, and deeply engaged with management teams.

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🌟 Featured Australia Private Equity Firms & Investors

Straight Bat Private Equity

What they do:
Straight Bat Private Equity focuses on investing in Australian small-to-mid-market companies, particularly in consumer, healthcare, and business services sectors.

Who they work with:
Founder-led businesses seeking operational refinement and structured capital support.

Operating model:
Managing partner–led private equity firm with hands-on portfolio involvement.

💡 Why they stand out:
🏏 Sector-specialised investing
⚙️ Operational growth focus
🤝 Founder-aligned governance

Steve Gledden — Managing Partner

Steve Gledden brings entrepreneurial discipline and operational insight to Straight Bat’s investment approach. Known for active portfolio engagement, he works closely with management teams to professionalise governance and strengthen growth systems. His leadership balances capital discipline with collaborative partnership.

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Quadrant Private Equity

What they do:
Quadrant Private Equity is one of Australia’s leading mid-market buyout firms, investing across healthcare, consumer, and industrial sectors.

Who they work with:
Established Australian companies positioned for regional expansion.

Operating model:
Founder-led private equity platform with deep institutional expertise.

💡 Why they stand out:
📈 Proven buyout track record
🏥 Strong healthcare and consumer presence
🌏 Asia-Pacific growth expansion
🧠 Institutional-grade governance

Chris Hadley — Executive Chairman & Founder

Chris Hadley founded Quadrant with a long-term view on Australian mid-market opportunity. His leadership reflects disciplined capital allocation, sector expertise, and board-level governance oversight. He is widely respected for helping portfolio companies scale beyond domestic markets into Asia-Pacific growth corridors.

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Odyssey Private Equity

What they do:
Odyssey Private Equity invests in growth-oriented Australian businesses with a strong operational improvement thesis.

Who they work with:
Entrepreneur-led mid-market companies preparing for scale.

Operating model:
Managing partner–driven firm offering hands-on operational engagement.

💡 Why they stand out:
⚙️ Operational value creation
📊 Structured governance frameworks
🤝 Long-term management alignment

George Penklis — Managing Partner

George Penklis brings leadership experience from both corporate and investment roles. At Odyssey, he emphasizes disciplined operational improvement and structured board engagement. His leadership style reflects partnership, clarity, and sustainable performance metrics.

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Mercury Capital Investments

What they do:
Mercury Capital invests in established Australian businesses across consumer, healthcare, and industrial sectors.

Who they work with:
Mid-market companies seeking transformational growth capital.

Operating model:
Founder-led investment firm with active portfolio engagement.

💡 Why they stand out:
📈 Growth acceleration focus
⚙️ Strong board-level oversight
🤝 Collaborative management partnerships

Clark Perkins — CEO & Founder

Clark Perkins founded Mercury Capital with a clear focus on disciplined value creation. He works closely with portfolio leadership teams to improve operational performance and capital efficiency. His leadership is defined by pragmatic governance and growth-oriented strategy.

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Advent Partners

What they do:
Advent Partners invests in healthcare, industrial, and service-oriented businesses across Australia.

Who they work with:
Founder-led and family-owned enterprises transitioning to institutional growth structures.

Operating model:
Director-led private equity firm emphasizing strategic oversight.

💡 Why they stand out:
🏥 Healthcare sector strength
📊 Long-term investment horizon
🤝 Structured governance alignment

Adrian Smith — Director

Adrian Smith brings strategic advisory depth and financial oversight to Advent’s investment approach. His focus lies in strengthening board governance and aligning capital with measurable performance improvement.

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Anacacia Capital

What they do:
Anacacia Capital focuses on lower mid-market Australian businesses with strong growth potential.

Who they work with:
Entrepreneur-led companies preparing for scalable expansion.

Operating model:
Founder-led private equity firm with active operational support.

💡 Why they stand out:
🌱 Lower mid-market specialization
⚙️ Operational performance improvement
📈 Structured capital discipline

Jeremy A. Samuel — Founder & Managing Director

Jeremy Samuel leads Anacacia with a disciplined investment framework and deep sector insight. He works directly with management teams to refine growth strategy and improve operational metrics. His leadership emphasizes structured capital allocation and sustainable enterprise value.

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Adcock Private Equity

What they do:
Adcock Private Equity focuses on high-growth businesses, often in healthcare and services.

Who they work with:
Scaling founder-led companies seeking strategic expansion capital.

Operating model:
Executive chairman–led investment platform.

💡 Why they stand out:
🚀 Growth-stage expertise
🏥 Healthcare specialization
🤝 Founder-focused collaboration

Brook Adcock — Executive Chairman

Brook Adcock brings entrepreneurial experience and sector knowledge to Adcock Private Equity. His leadership emphasizes strategic expansion, disciplined scaling, and close partnership with management teams.

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Next Capital Private Equity

What they do:
Next Capital is an Australian mid-market private equity firm focused on operational value creation.

Who they work with:
Established companies requiring governance strengthening and growth alignment.

Operating model:
Founding partner–led firm with deep board-level engagement.

💡 Why they stand out:
⚙️ Operational transformation
📊 Structured board governance
📈 Long-term value creation

Sandy Lockhart, John White & Patrick Elliott — Founding Partners

The founding team at Next Capital blends operational oversight, governance experience, and disciplined investment execution. Together, they focus on strengthening management infrastructure and aligning capital with measurable performance improvement. Their collaborative leadership style ensures portfolio companies receive strategic clarity and board-level rigor.

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Reach Alts

What they do:
Reach Alts provides Australian investors access to global private equity strategies through diversified fund structures.

Who they work with:
Sophisticated investors seeking global private equity exposure.

Operating model:
Founder-led alternative investment platform.

💡 Why they stand out:
🌍 Global diversification access
📊 Structured portfolio construction
🧠 Institutional investment frameworks

Hugh McCaffrey, Sam Phillips & Jonathan Ng — Founders

Reach Alts’ founding team combines investment management, operational leadership, and actuarial precision. Together, they structure diversified private equity exposure with disciplined risk oversight and global perspective. Their leadership reflects analytical rigor and commitment to transparent investor communication.

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Final Thoughts

Australia’s private equity ecosystem is pragmatic, relationship-driven, and increasingly global. These firms are shaping governance standards, professionalising founder-led businesses, and expanding Australian enterprises across Asia-Pacific corridors.

At Digital Reference, we believe capital should be matched with visible credibility. Through verified professional reference collection and structured video resume tools, we help investors and founders evaluate leadership with clarity and confidence.

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Digital Reference is redefining professional trust infrastructure — helping capital partners, operators, and executives build reputations grounded in authenticity, transparency, and measurable track records.