Boutique Capital Raising and Investment Services |
Saphet Capital Management Pty Ltd |
Management Team and Advisory PanelSaphet Capital Management assembles top-level management and advisory teams to evaluate each opportunity on a case-by-case basis. Our specialist managers and advisors boast impeccable qualifications in fields such as:
Responsibility for recruiting teams on a project-by-project basis lies with Zenon Pasieczny, a management consultant and media executive with more than 20 years' experience in Australia and Hong Kong . Zenon has an MBA from the Maastricht School of Management (The Netherlands) with a Distinction in International Business (1998). He is a Me mber of the Australian Institute of Management Consultants (IMC) and is a Graduate of the Company Directors Course from the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD, 2001). Zenon takes a market-focussed approach to investing, ensuring customer needs are well and truly understood by technologists before helping to build solid financial platforms to bring products to market. Apart from his work with Saphet Capital Management, Zenon is the founder of Great Wall Media (www.greatwallmedia.com), providing specialist social marketing consulting services to a select portfolio of private and public-sector clients in Australia and overseas. He has been involved in more than 40 start-ups and new product launches. What We Look For — Advice to ApplicantsAn ideal investment for Mountain Lake Investment Fund No 1 has some – or all – of the following attributes:
We will consider investments in any industry or sector, and any Australian geographic location. Importantly, you must be able to explain your idea in language we understand. There's no good having the best concept in the world if you can't communicate how it works and who your customers will be. If we decide we like your initial pitch, we will move quickly on behalf of Mountain Lake Investment Fund No 1 – we do not want to waste our time or yours. In most cases, we will assemble a high-level advisory team to examine various aspects of your proposal. This means you will be quizzed by experts in fields such as software engineering, law, accounting and marketing – you better be prepared and have your answers ready. Be warned: This process is rigorous and few survive to the next stage. This is necessary because we only want to partner with those displaying the finest characteristics of innovative start-up companies and we need to provide sound, long-term, secure investment and management services for our shareholders. This means we have a deep-seated philosophy of protecting our investments by balancing control and monitoring with strategic relationships and introductions to business acceleration opportunities. What We Can — and Can't — Invest InAs a registered Pooled Development Fund, Mountain Lake Investment Fund No 1 Pty Ltd can only invest in Australian companies that will:
Under Australian law, a Pooled Development Fund cannot invest in:
In addition, a PDF cannot place more than 30% of its capital in any one business. To ensure realistic expectations on both sides, please be aware of these restrictions before approaching us, or any other PDF for that matter. Plus, only contact us if you are convinced your idea is innovative and you have taken the time to understand your potential customer base. And remember, if your initial pitch is rejected, please don't take it personally. Our people are very busy and it could simply be a matter of bad timing when your pitch comes in. If your idea really has merit, we'll gladly look at it again if you can succinctly and politely point out the error of our ways. What is a Pooled Development Fund (PDF)?A Pooled Development Fund (PDF) is an investment program, designed and implemented by the Australian Government in 1992 to facilitate the supply of equity capital to Australia 's small to medium-size enterprises (SMEs). PDFs are companies that are registered under the PDF Act (the Act), which is designed to protect investors and regulate operations. In return, PDFs offer attractive investment returns based on favourable tax concessions for investors. What are the Tax Concessions to PDF Shareholders?PDF shareholders are generally exempt from tax on their PDF investment. The main tax advantages to PDF shareholders are:
The extent of these tax concessions and rebates to shareholders and investors depends upon a number of factors including the source of the PDF income, the tax rate applicable to the shareholder, and the extent of franking on any dividends paid by the PDF. What are the Tax Concessions for PDFs?One of the main attractions of investing in a PDF is the tax concession provided under the Act to investors. PDFs are taxed as companies but at a lower corporate tax rate. The tax rate for PDFs is:
The above two-tiered tax structure is designed to encourage PDFs to invest their uncommitted funds in SMEs and not in interest-bearing investments. How are PDFs Governed?The PDF Act regulates various aspects of a PDF's investment activities that must be met if tax concessions are to be granted to PDF investors. PDFs can:
What Exactly is Venture Capital Funding?If you are looking for funds, you probably believe your idea is unique and no amount of pigeonholing will do it justice. However, to make it easier for the venture capital industry, opportunities are usually classified according to their level of maturity. For newly established businesses, the first stage is Pre-seed financing, which usually involves a small team of spirited people with a good idea and plenty of sweat equity requiring funds to gain momentum for their project. Seed financing is slightly more advanced. The idea has moved from proof-of-concept to proof-of-product, and there may already be a prototype. While industry partners may have been identified, little work has gone into market definition and customer requirements. Once the product has been built and tested, the business is in Start-up mode. There may not be any sales - except for an early loss leader or two - but there is enough traction to justify further investment. Based on the ability to define a customer base or attract clients, the business may require First-stage financing to begin commercial production. This is typically followed by Second-stage financing as sales begin to take off and you enter additional markets or begin to offer extra services. If you grow at sufficient speed, you may require Mezzanine financing, which signals to the market that you are at a critical point in your development, both in terms of risk but also in terms of opportunity. What Does 'Saphet' Mean?The name 'Saphet' is taken from Saphet Castle, a 12th Century Crusader fortress in the Middle East. Apart from being a military stronghold protecting up to 1,700 soldiers, Saphet Castle was renowned for its abundance and prosperity, the result of carefully planted fruit trees and vineyards, and a loyal and tenacious workforce. Contact UsTo find out more about the capital raising services of Saphet Capital Management, please send an email. If you prefer, send hard copy material to: Saphet Capital Management |