Pemba Capital Partners

What Pemba Capital Partners does

Pemba Capital Partners is an Australian private equity firm founded in 1998 and headquartered in Sydney that focuses on acquiring and operating late-stage, middle-market companies. The firm executes acquisitions across a diversified set of sectors, including environmental consulting (Ektimo, WolfPeak, Factotum), automotive data technology (The Marque Group), SMSF administration software (SuperConcepts), hospitality and retail technology (MSL Solutions), specialty insurance funding (Hunter Premium Funding), and various business services (Stannards, ONCALL, RxMx, HR3, Placard, Device Technologies). Its investment approach includes both platform acquisitions and vertical roll-ups, notably in environmental consulting where it has assembled a multi-firm platform targeting resource and industrial sector clients.

Pemba's portfolio companies operate across Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany, and New Zealand. The firm employs between 11 and 50 staff and structures transactions through subsidiaries such as Plutus Bidco Pty Ltd, which was used for the MSL Solutions scheme of arrangement. Its advisory network includes OC&C Strategy Consultants, EY, and Rennie, which provide due diligence and execution support on transactions. Notable disclosed deal sizes include MSL Solutions (~$120M AUD), Ektimo (>$100M AUD), and SuperConcepts ($8M AUD).

Pemba generates returns through capital appreciation and operational improvements across its portfolio, exiting investments via trade sales, IPOs, or secondary transactions. Its disclosed leadership includes Managing Director Tom Matthews and Associate Director Grace Hynd. The firm's operating geographies span Oceania (Australia, New Zealand) and parts of Europe (UK, Germany), with deal sourcing conducted through direct negotiation, advisory mandates, and formal transaction processes. No technology platform or proprietary software is disclosed at the GP level, as Pemba's business model is centered on portfolio company acquisition and value creation rather than direct technology development.

Name

Pemba Capital Partners

Legal name

Pemba Capital Partners

Website

http://pemba.com.au/

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pemba Capital Partners is a Sydney-based Australian private equity firm founded in 1998 that acquires and operates late-stage, middle-market companies across sectors including environmental consulting, automotive technology, SMSF administration, and specialty financial services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Sector-Focused Venture Capital (Vertical Specialists) (FSANAAAD)

Keywords

• Private equity investment
• Middle market buyouts
• Portfolio management
• Leveraged acquisitions
• Growth capital

Headquarters

HQ city

Sydney

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

Revenue model

1. Private Equity Investment Returns: Pemba Capital generates returns through acquiring companies, improving portfolio company performance, and exiting investments via trade sales, IPOs, or secondary transactions. Revenue derived from capital appreciation and operational improvements across portfolio companies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Core offering

Pemba Capital Partners is a Sydney-based private equity firm that acquires and manages late-stage middle-market companies across diversified sectors including environmental consulting, automotive technology, SMSF administration, and hospitality technology. The firm raises capital from limited partners, deploys it into controlling stakes in operating businesses, and supports portfolio companies with strategic and operational guidance.

Product overview

Pemba Capital Partners is a private equity firm that acquires and manages a portfolio of companies across multiple sectors. The firm's portfolio includes acquired companies such as SuperConcepts (SMSF administration and software), The Marque Group (automotive technology), MSL Solutions (hospitality/retail point-of-sale solutions), Ektimo (environmental consulting), WolfPeak (environmental consulting), and Factotum (environmental consulting). These represent portfolio company acquisitions rather than a unified product platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Segments1 record

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered supporting.

• OC&C Strategy ConsultantssupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOC&C provided buy-side due diligence services to Pemba Capital for the acquisition of Stannards.
• RenniesupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRennie acted as advisor on the Ektimo acquisition transaction alongside OC&C and EY.
• EYsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEY acted as advisor alongside Rennie and OC&C Strategy Consultants on the Ektimo acquisition by Pemba Capital Partners.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Pacific Equity Partners: One of Australia's largest PE firms, focused on middle-market buyouts. Directly comparable to Pemba in sector breadth (business services, healthcare, consumer) and Australian market focus, though typically operating at a larger deal scale.
• Quadrant Private Equity: Australian mid-market PE firm investing across consumer, services, and healthcare. Comparable to Pemba in fund size, sector diversification within Australia, and middle-market transaction profile.
• BGH Capital: Australia-based PE firm founded by former BHP Billiton executives, focused on large and mid-cap transactions. Comparable as a domestic Australian buyout sponsor with diversified sector exposure, though typically at a larger cheque size than Pemba.
• CPE Capital (formerly Catalyst Private Equity): Australian mid-market PE firm investing in business services, consumer, and industrial companies. Directly comparable to Pemba in fund vintage, target company size, and sector-agnostic Australian focus.
• Anchorage Capital Partners: Australian private investment firm focused on control buyouts in the lower to mid-market. Comparable to Pemba in transaction size profile and Australian mid-market focus.
• Allegro Funds: Australian mid-market PE firm with a focus on turnaround and traditional buyout situations. Comparable to Pemba in deal size range and Australian middle-market orientation, with some overlap in business services exposure.
• Adamantem Capital Partners: Australian mid-market PE firm targeting growth and buyout opportunities in business services and consumer. Comparable in fund size, target deal profile, and Australian mid-market strategy.
• Ironbridge Capital: Australian mid-market PE firm investing across services, consumer, and healthcare. Comparable to Pemba in target deal size, sector breadth, and focus on Australian-headquartered businesses.

Broad incumbents

• Affinity Equity Partners: Asia-Pacific focused PE firm with Australian deal flow, targeting control buyouts in the mid- to upper-mid market. Comparable in cross-border capability and operational focus, though typically at larger deal sizes than Pemba.
• KKR Australia (KKR & Co.): Global PE firm with an active Australian mid- and large-cap practice. Comparable only at the broader category level — competes for the same Australian asset pool as Pemba, but operates with materially greater fund size and sector resources.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rmb-capital-partners-pty-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A11 records

Investments21 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pemba Capital Partners