Direct Capital is itself a private company, owned by its executives who have been together since its first fund, which was established in 1994.

We understand the issues that business owners think about when considering how to grow their business or facilitate a change of ownership. Investing in private companies is all we do and it’s all we’ve done for 16 years.

We’ve raised more than $800 million over that time for investment into private companies and our latest fund, Direct Capital IV which completed its fund raising at the end of 2009, has $325 million available to invest through to 2015.

Private companies are the majority of the New Zealand economy and form a significant component of Australia’s economy. New Zealand companies with annual revenues of $20 million and more represent a market that’s 5-7 times the size of the NZSX. But by their nature, access to capital is more restricted for private companies than for listed companies.

Direct Capital was established to provide capital to private companies to:

• continue funding growth and business expansion
• complete an acquisition of a competitor or complementary business
• fund the business through to a public listing
• help business owners facilitate a change of ownership to their management team

We’re not a bank. We invest capital and become shareholders alongside the owners and managers running the business. We work with owners to create long term growth and create shareholder value. It’s a long term partnership and our record is one we’re proud of.