‘Deal of the year’ winners for 2016

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NOT FOR BROADCAST OR PUBLICATION BEFORE 8:00PM THURSDAY, 1 SEPTEMBER 2016

‘Deal of the year’ winners for 2016

The winners of this year’s AVCAL ‘Deal of the Year’ Awards were announced tonight, at the culmination of AVCAL’s 23rd annual alpha conference in Melbourne.

To recognise the best private equity and venture capital deals for 2016, AVCAL handed out awards across six categories, as well as two separate special awards.

The award winners were:

Best Early Stage Award

Awarded to GBS Venture Partners, OneVentures, Uniseed, QIC and Blue Sky Ventures for their investment in Hatchtech.

Best Management Buyout under $75 million

Awarded to Anacacia Capital for their investment in Appen.

Best Management Buyout between $75-$150 million

Awarded to CHAMP Private Equity for their investment in Alleasing.

Best Management Buyout between $150-$300 million

Awarded to Archer Capital for their investment in Healthe Care.

Best Management Buyout between $300-$500 million

Awarded to Pacific Equity Partners for their investment in Link Group.

Best Management Buyout over $500 million

Awarded to Pacific Equity Partners for their investment in Energy Developments.

In addition to these six category winners, AVCAL also recognised two other award winners in the following categories:

The Michael Hirshorn Award, honouring a private equity or venture capital-backed business whose products or services have been instrumental in making a significant community contribution, which this year was awarded to Guardian Early Learning and Navis Capital. 2

The inaugural Workplace Diversity Award was presented to Brandon Capital for their efforts in creating an inclusive workplace environment and building initiatives and opportunities for all staff, whatever their background, to achieve their full potential.

“The nominations for this year’s awards were very strong,” said AVCAL Chief Executive, Yasser El-Ansary. “Our fund managers do a remarkable job of working closely with management teams to build strong and successful portfolio companies, and it’s important to celebrate that success.”

“We’re also very pleased to be awarding the inaugural AVCAL Workplace Diversity Award in our industry. Diversity is an issue that is very much front of mind for the industry, and this award acknowledges the work that fund managers do to promote more diversity within their organisations and at the portfolio company level,” he added.

More information on award recipients is included below.

About the Award Recipients

Hatchtech

Hatchtech Pty Ltd is a specialty pharmaceutical company located in Melbourne, Australia. The Company is developing Xeglyze™ Lotion, a proprietary next generation head lice treatment. Xeglyze™ is a topical lotion containing an inhibitor of metalloproteinases known to impede a number of physiological processes involved in all stages of the louse lifecycle from egg to adult. A substantial body of scientific data has established its mode of action, and preclinical and clinical studies have evaluated the efficacy and safety of Xeglyze™. The Company was originally founded through programs that originated at the University of Melbourne in Australia. Hatchtech has a comprehensive patent estate for Xeglyze™ Lotion including granted U.S. and EU patents, and several pending patent applications. Hatchtech is securely financed by a consortium of specialist venture capitalists and sophisticated investors.

Appen

Appen is a global leader in speech and search technology services. With expertise in more than 150 languages, Appen partners with leading technology and ecommerce companies as they develop new offerings and expand them to global markets. Our solutions help companies create engaging products with accurate speech interfaces and relevant content ranging from web sites, to maps, images, and merchandise.

Alleasing

Alleasing is a leading independent lessor in the Australia and New Zealand market, delivering creative equipment finance solutions to customers for over 25 years. Alleasing's team of specialised professionals have the industry knowledge and asset expertise to help our customers make the most cost effective financing decisions, keeping their businesses competitive. Through leasing, Alleasing provides customers with the latest technology, improved cash flow and complete flexibility. 3

Healthe Care

Healthe Care is Australia's third largest for-profit private hospital operator and one of the largest privately-owned healthcare companies in Australia. Healthe Care operates a portfolio of 17 hospitals with over 1,800 beds and more than 50 operating theatres/catheterisation labs. The hospitals are located in major cities and key regional areas across Australia including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Gold Coast and Newcastle. The company provides a comprehensive range of acute, mental health and specialty services. Healthe Care employs over 4,500 staff and has over 2,500 credentialed doctors working within its hospitals. The company is headquartered in Sydney.

Link Group

Link Group is comprised of two businesses: Link Market Services and Australian Administration Services (AAS). Link Market Services is the number two share registry company in Australia maintaining the registers and providing registry related services to approximately 450 Australian listed companies. In addition to maintaining shareholder registers, the company also provides value added services such as administration of employee share schemes, shareholder meetings and corporate actions. Growth comes as a result of enhancing the value added services offered to the company's existing clients. AAS is one of the leading specialists in superannuation administration. With over 900 employees across six states, they administer superannuation for 220,000 employers and 4 million members in Australia.

Energy Developments

Energy Developments Pty Limited is an international provider of safe, clean, low greenhouse gas emissions energy, remote energy solutions and renewables. EDL currently manages an international portfolio of over 900MW of power generation facilities in Australia, the United States and Europe, utilising a range of fuel sources operating in five main areas: remote energy, natural gas (NG, CNG & LNG) and diesel, landfill gas, waste coal mine gas and wind.

Guardian Early Learning

Guardian is currently the third largest operator of private childcare services in Australia. The group currently owns and manages 71 childcare centres across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, providing education and care for over 10,000 families and their children. Guardian is also developing, designing and constructing 10 new childcare centres which will become operational over the coming 12 months. Guardian comprises two divisions: Guardian Corporate, which owns and operates 12 early learning centres in Sydney and Canberra for and on behalf of corporate clients. Guardian Corporate provides childcare for children of employees of a number of Australia’s largest corporations; and Guardian Community, which owns and operates 59 childcare centres located throughout metropolitan areas of Australia’s largest capital cities, including Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.

Brandon Capital

One of Australia’s leading life science venture capital firms, Brandon Capital Partners invests in leading life science innovations with the promise of improved treatment outcomes and commercial returns. With unparalleled access to academic and research institutions, Brandon Capital applies seed and venture funding along with industry and operational expertise to advance innovative life science companies from inception to successful exits. The seasoned Brandon Capital team partners with entrepreneurs to build businesses that create value for the innovators, their teams and Brandon Capital’s investors. Brandon Capital currently manages three funds raised since 2008, totalling more than AU$300 million. Brandon Capital has Australian offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane and a US office in Palo Alto, California. 4

About AVCAL

The Australian Private Equity & Venture Capital Association Limited (AVCAL) is a national association which represents the private equity and venture capital industries. AVCAL's members comprise most of the active private equity and venture capital firms in Australia. These firms provide capital for early stage companies, later stage expansion capital, and capital for management buyouts of established companies.

www.avcal.com.au www.twitter.com/avcal1 www.linkedin.com/company/avcal

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