EQT today announced the recruitment of Frank Heckes and David Forde to jointly lead EQT Private Equity’s team in Australia and New Zealand. The team will be based in Sydney and work alongside EQT’s Infrastructure team, led by Ken Wong, and continue to further build EQT’s overall presence in the region.
Frank Heckes and David Forde both have extensive investment experience in the private equity market, in partner and senior executive positions across both Australia and Europe, at firms including Archer Capital, TPG Capital and CCMP Capital.
Ken Wong, who leads EQT’s Infrastructure team in Australia and New Zealand said: “We are excited to welcome Frank and David to EQT and to also add EQT’s Private Equity business line to the Sydney office. Australia and New Zealand are key parts of EQT’s focus to grow in Asia Pacific across business lines, and these new hires demonstrate EQT’s commitment and ambitions for the region.”
“We are delighted to have found two such high calibre individuals to lead our Private Equity team in Australia and New Zealand. Both Frank and David bring strong networks and track records and are ideally qualified to bring EQT’s approach to developing companies. Working alongside Ken, they will help to build on the thematic investments we have already made in the region” states Simon Griffiths, Head of EQT Private Equity APAC.
EQT’s investments in Australia and New Zealand currently includes EQT Infrastructure’s pending acquisition of leading New Zealand retirement village operator Metlifecare, and EQT Mid Market Asia’s investment in IT-services provider Nexon Asia Pacific. EQT previously invested in the Australian diagnostic imaging service provider I-MED between 2014 and 2018.
The announcement supports EQT’s strategy of further expanding its presence in the strategically important Asia Pacific region. In alignment with EQT’s “local-with-locals” approach, the Private Equity team will seek to find thematic investment opportunities in close collaboration with EQT’s global platform and extensive network, including the Wallenberg family network.
Contact
EQT Press Office, press@eqtpartners.com
About EQT
EQT is a differentiated global investment organization with more than EUR 62 billion in raised capital and around EUR 40 billion in assets under management across 19 active funds. EQT funds have portfolio companies in Europe, Asia-Pacific and North America with total sales of more than EUR 27 billion and approximately 159,000 employees. EQT works with portfolio companies to achieve sustainable growth, operational excellence and market leadership.
More info: www.eqtgroup.com
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