Martin is available for hire
Hire MartinMartin Pretty
Verified Expert in Finance
Finance Expert
Location
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Toptal 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.
Career Highlights
Founder, Director, Investment Manager
Equitable Investors
Non-executive Director
Centrepoint Alliance
Investment Manager
Thorney Investment Group
Education Highlights
Graduate Diploma
Finsia
Bachelor of Arts Degree
University of Melbourne
Certification Highlights
Graduate, Australian Institute of Company Directors
Australian Institute of Company Directors
Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
CFA Institute
Case Studies
Industry Expertise
Other Expertise
Work Experience
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
2000 - 2005
Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance
Finsia - Melbourne, Australia
1995 - 1999
Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and Economics
University of Melbourne - Melbourne, Australia
Certifications
OCTOBER 2018 - PRESENT
Graduate, Australian Institute of Company Directors
Australian Institute of Company Directors
SEPTEMBER 2010 - PRESENT
Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
CFA Institute