The Wingate Story
Wingate launched with a vision to revive the old European family merchant banking tradition, based on personal investor relationships. This meant bringing an exceptionally measured approach to risk and to its investment strategies.
While Wingate initially focused primarily on M&A advisory work, the intention was always to create an investment platform. Within a few years, Wingate launched its fund management business and began investing in property debt transactions.
Founded in 2004 from a home office in Melbourne, Wingate today manages over $8 billion in funds, having funded $20 billion in property value, and supported the construction of over 20,000 homes for Australians.
Wingate has also incubated several successful and now independent businesses including NOW Finance, ORDE Financial, Talaria and Fifo Capital.
Key Achievements
- Wingate secures another material institutional capital partner representing an initial commitment of A$200 million from a leading North American investor
- Wingate hits a significant business milestone, reaching 20 years in operation.
- Wingate Property Senior Debt Fund (WPSD) reaches $100m in funds under management.
- Wingate becomes signatory of the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI)
- International Equities Manager Talaria reaches $1.5bn funds under management
- Wingate Property Senior Debt Fund (WPSD) awarded ‘Superior’ rating and ‘High Investment Grade’ by SQM Research
- Wingate establishes a $200M warehouse funding facility with Goldman Sachs.
- Launches Wingate Corporate Credit Fund No.3 (WCCF3), a closed-end fund building upon Wingate’s 20-year track record in private debt and the third in its Corporate Credit Fund series.
- Wingate expands Melbourne’s office footprint, taking over the entire level 48 tenancy at 101 Collins with a complete office redesign.
- Wingate Property reaches a milestone of more than $14.5bn in property value funded to date.
- Launches the Wingate Senior Debt Fund (WPSD), an open-ended fund specialising in senior property secured debt.
- Enters agreement with Goldman Sachs to provide complex and flexible capital solutions to Wingate’s borrower clients in residual stock positions, further solidifying Wingate’s reputation as a preeminent private investment house.
- Acquires Capstra, a leading independent Australian real estate financier and advisory firm, cementing Wingate’s position as Australia’s most experienced specialist property debt investor and financier.
- Pre-Launches Wingate Property Senior Debt Fund (WPSD), an open-ended fund.
- Fully deploys Wingate Corporate Credit Fund I (WCCFI) and raises Wingate Corporate Credit Fund II (WCCFII).
- ORDE Financial loan book expanded.
- NOW Finance becomes Australia’s number one consumer lender and is demerged from Wingate as an independent entity.
- Co-investor base grows to more than 1,600.
- WIP funds under management (FUM) surpasses $1b; continues to deliver strong returns with a risk-first approach.
- Property portfolio continues to shift towards senior secured debt positions, now comprising more than 70% of the investments.
- Launches Wingate Corporate Credit Fund I (WCCFI) in response to market opportunity. The fund is significantly over-subscribed (130%) at launch.
- Launches ORDE Financial, a non-bank specialist mortgage lender providing residential, commercial, SMSF and development loans.
- Group loan portfolios exceed $2.2b as of 30 September.
- 15-year anniversary of Wingate, with more than $5b invested across asset management, financing, and investment activities.
- Flagship Wingate WIP FUM reaches $1b milestone.
- NOW Finance completes $A200m inaugural public capital markets transaction.
- Wingate Property raises $90m for a second fund in its Property Equity series.
- Wingate Property enters a partnership with Align Property Partners and makes an inaugural investment, focused on value-added opportunities.
- Launches specialist Asia Investments Desk.
- Wingate Corporate Investments provides $30m warehouse funding to Australia’s leading fintech small business lender.
- NOW Finance achieves the milestone of lending over $460m to 22,000 customers since inception.
- As of April 2019, all WIP Funds generated double-digit returns.
- WIP FUM surpassed $700m.
- Secures significant credit facility from a global financial institution to assist with liquidity into the WIP funds.
- NOW Finance exceeds $1b in loan applications since its launch less than 5 years ago.
- NOW Finance secures a second bank warehouse of $280m.
- Cornerstone investment made into HUB, Australia’s largest privately owned co-working space business.
- Wingate Asset Management re-branded as ‘Talaria’.
- Wingate Property nears $2B in investment across $8b in property value.
- NOW Finance originates over $126m in loans, a 121% increase on CY2016. Loan origination surpasses $250m.
- NOW Finance successfully raises further equity. Loan book totals more than $150m as of 31 December 2017.
- WIP FUM exceeds $450m.
- Sydney office expands and relocates to meet growth in co-investor demand.
- Wingate Asset Management’s Global Equity Fund attracts major new investment; exceeds $300m in FUM.
- Wingate Property negotiates the sale of a large-scale commercial property at 70% above the original cost; with investor returns materially exceeding original forecasts.
- Acquires strategic stake in Quickfee, a niche financier providing specialist professional fee funding.
- WIP FUM exceeds $250m; continues to yield double-digit returns.
- Wingate Asset Management executes the buyout of Australian Unity’s shareholding.
- Partners with the Smorgon family; creates Australia’s largest digital marketing health channel.
- NOW Finance acquires MacCredit, a leading Australian originator in the medical and dental segment.
- NOW Finance launches a secured personal loan product, distributed through a national network of over 1,700 brokers.
- Wingate’s commitment to Gold Coast developments exceeds $125m.
- NOW Finance’s personal loan book grows more than 200%.
- NOW Finance originates multiple new investor note programs and successfully launches its first dedicated institutional note program.
- Zenith upgrades Wingate Global Equity Funds to ‘Recommended’.
- Wingate secures a majority stake in Byron at Byron, Byron Bay’s biggest commercial development in decades.
- WIP3 opens; total WIP funds surpass $200m.
- Property investment exceeds $1B in aggregate across more than $5b in property value.
- NOW Finance successfully raises further equity capital to fund its robust growth.
- NOW Finance solidifies its position as a leading Australian marketplace lender with book growth of over 240%.
- Wingate Asset Management (WAM) was awarded a significant investment mandate by one of Australia’s largest corporate superannuation funds.
- NOW rolls out new investor note programs to fund its growing receivable book.
- Leading Australian asset consultant approves Wingate Asset Management for institutional investment.
- Research house Lonsec rates WAM ‘Recommended’.
- Wingate opens WIP2; total WIP funds surpass $100m.
- BT Financial Group adds WAM’s global equity fund to model portfolios.
- Wingate Property exceeds $4b in property value.
- NOW Finance finalises first bank funding warehouse; successfully launches initial investor note program.
- Wingate Asset Management was approved for institutional investment by one of the world’s leading asset consultants with over $2t under advice.
- A strategic investor buys an equity stake in NOW Finance.
- Aviva Investors completes extensive diligence; awards mandate to Wingate Property.
- WIP1 re-opens amidst strong market demand.
- Research house van Eyk awards WAM investment grade rating.
- NOW Finance successfully launches point-of-sale and broker distribution channels.
- Research house Morningstar awards WAM investment grade rating.
- WIP1 launches and is heavily oversubscribed.
- Wingate capital portfolio business NOW Finance is established and obtains its Australian Credit License
- Safika Holdings acquires an equity stake in Wingate Group Holdings.
- Safika commits capital to Wingate private equity investments through a dedicated investment vehicle.
- JP Morgan co-invests in Wingate; originates landmark mezzanine property debt investment to fund $300m acquisition (subsequently successfully exited).
- Major family offices from around the world take up equity in Wingate Group Holdings.
- Wingate Group Holdings established.