Commencer Capital is a newly established funds and investment management business based in Australia. The Commencer team has a strong history in corporate finance, debt and equity investments, with the team previously being part of the Investec Banking Group for many years before transferring to Commencer (commensurate with the Investec Group’s withdrawal from Australia in 2021).

In April 2021, Commencer acquired the management rights to the Commencer Capital Emerging Companies Fund from Investec (formerly the Investec Emerging Companies Fund) and currently has five FTEs, all of whom worked together at Investec (ranging from 5 to 15 years).

Commencer is majority owned and was founded by David Phillips who spent 15 years at Investec in senior executive roles including as founder of the Emerging Companies Fund and head of the Investec Emerging Companies business. Commencer’s other shareholders have significant domestic and overseas funds and/or investment management backgrounds and are also major investors in the Commencer Capital Emerging Companies Fund.

The Commencer team have deep corporate relationships in Australia and overseas, strengthened by the relationships of its board and Investment Committee members who are some of the most experienced and well connected professionals in the market.

Commencer was set up to support high growth businesses through the provision of capital and connectivity.