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Martin Pretty, Finance Expert in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Martin Pretty

Finance Expert in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Member since January 8, 2019
Martin is an investment and finance veteran and a CFA charter holder. He has held the head of research roles on the sell-side, managed investments for a well-known and highly regarded family office and sat on the boards of several public companies. Martin is also the founder and investment manager of a boutique investment management firm.
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Career Highlights

Education

Select Certifications

Case studies

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Industry Expertise

  • Security Products & Services
  • Investment Banking
  • Financial Modeling
  • Capital Markets
  • Financial Markets

Other Expertise

Employment

  • Non-executive Director

    2020 - PRESENT
    Scout Alarm
    • Assisted with fundraising, introducing the company to investors, brokers, and advisers, and worked closely with the appointed adviser to secure $2 million in capital commitments for first-round then another $3m four months later.
    • Provided advice and significant commercial and corporate opportunities.
    • Reviewed and contributed to company documents including regulatory filings and press releases.
    Focus areas: Financials, Governance, Fundraising, SaaS, Security

  • Non-executive Director

    2020 - PRESENT
    SPACETALK
    • Selected for a new position with an exciting business that I have followed for some time and I believe will benefit from my skills, knowledge, and experience.
    • Brought in to add capital markets and finance expertise to the board.
    • Looked to for my breadth of experience and knowledge supporting diverse growing technology businesses over 20 years.
    Focus areas: Value Creation, Risk Management, Capital Markets, Strategy

  • Founder, Director, Investment Manager

    2017 - PRESENT
    Equitable Investors
    • Launched the business and investment products, established the legal structure, secured regulatory licenses, and contracted with service providers.
    • Raised seed capital as well as funding for an open-ended unit trust primarily from sophisticated investors and other investment managers, and created the information memorandum, presentation, and other documentation.
    • Analyzed businesses and built models, met executives, researched industries, and assessed opportunities and value.
    • Advised multi-site senior care operator on sale of business and assets. Renegotiated a previous deal after modeling implications. Prepared financials, contract schedules, other DD material. Managed lawyers, drove deal to close, prepared financials.
    • Engaged with management and non-executive directors of investments discussing business conditions, the capital structure, risk, opportunities, and competition.
    • Consulted with family offices on investments and was contracted to work with one office on a pool of investments.
    • Published financial commentary contributing market and stock analysis to a well-known online finance platform, establishing and updating a personal blog, adding proprietary research to a buy-side platform; and appearing on television.
    • Ranked by Morningstar as the top-performing small and mid-cap fund in Australie in six months to February 28, 2021 - and top five over 12 months.
    Focus areas: Capital Raising, Investment Summaries, Investment Memoranda, Investment Monitoring, Investment Thesis, Financial Modeling, Fundraising, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Business Advisory, Financial Advisory, Investment Portfolio Management

  • Non-executive Director

    2014 - PRESENT
    Centrepoint Alliance
    • Promoted the sale of an insurance premium funding business unit, engaging with investment bankers and internal management to establish and complete the sell-side process at a premium valuation.
    • Drove a refreshment of the board of directors, driving the acquisition of new board talent.
    • Drove board agenda on a revised business strategy that resulted in the recruitment of a new CEO and refocusing on the critical value drivers of the business.
    • Assessed multiple acquisition and investment opportunities reviewing M&A models, including accretion/dilution and synergy cases, as well as draft proposals, and led the investment approval process for the most attractive deals.
    • Proposed and supported capital management initiatives to ensure the efficient utilization of shareholders funds, including special dividends and buy-back activity.
    Focus areas: Capital Investment Appraisals, Business Planning, Investments, Financial Regulations, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Financial Advisory

  • Investment Manager

    2013 - 2017
    Thorney Investment Group
    • Helped establish and manage Thorney Opportunities, a publicly traded investment company that increased value at a rate of nearly 17% per annum over nearly five years.
    • Identified and seeded assets into Thorney Technologies, an investment company.
    • Built an interest of just under 20% in superannuation trustee Diversa before the Company's acquisition by a more significant financial services player.
    • Identified and invested in many successful technology investments including "buy now, pay later" financial technology company Afterpay and online moving platform Updater.
    • Represented Thorney in negotiations relating to several distressed businesses, investing in the successful turnaround of consumer brand company Pental, which held a portfolio of well-known brands in categories like bleach and soap, but faced execution and capital structure challenges.
    Focus areas: Financial Modeling, Investment Portfolio Management, Portfolio Analysis, Investment Briefs, Investments, Investment Monitoring, Investment Thesis

Education

  • Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance
    2000 - 2005
    Finsia - Melbourne, Australia
  • Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and Economics
    1995 - 1999
    University of Melbourne - Melbourne, Australia

Certifications

  • Graduate, Australian Institute of Company Directors
    OCTOBER 2018 - PRESENT
    Australian Institute of Company Directors
  • Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
    SEPTEMBER 2010 - PRESENT
    CFA Institute

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