Caniwi Capital Partners Limited is a Wellington based private investment group established recently by Troy Bowker and Matt Fraser.
Troy Bowker recently returned to New Zealand after over a decade as a senior investment banker in London and New York. The 37 year old held senior positions at HSBC Bank plc and Swiss Re Capital Markets and was most recently managing director of asset and structured finance at HSBC Bank plc and was heading up the US asset finance business and UK structured finance business. In that capacity Mr Bowker was directly responsible for multi-billion dollar principal transactions for HSBC’s balance sheet. Read more...
The name Caniwi is derived from Mr Bowker’s wife Lisa who is Canadian and their two boys which are Canadian and Kiwi’s. Caniwi owns property in Canada including properties in Calgary, Alberta, currently leased to the Japan Government and used by their consulate staff.
Mr Bowker returned to New Zealand in late 2008 with his family and soon after established Caniwi Capital Partners Limited with long time friend and colleague Matt Fraser. Matt Fraser is managing director of the company and prior to setting up Caniwi with Troy Bowker held various senior management positions with New Zealand Post.
Mr Bowker said today “we set up Caniwi to invest in commercial property and to undertake private equity investments in the mid cap market. The best buying opportunities generally arise during periods of high economic uncertainty. While it is a difficult judgement call picking the bottom of the market, the gap between financing costs and returns available for asset classes such as commercial property and private equity, are now at a level where it makes sense to invest.”
These recessionary times present a very difficult challenge to most businesses. However, to businesses with capital and the risk appetite to invest, these conditions represent an enormous opportunity. “We are fortunate to be in a cashed up position and are actively looking for attractive investment opportunities.” Mr Bowker said.
Caniwi has appointed Michael Stanley as an adviser to the board. Mr Stanley was up formerly chairman of Ernst & Young New Zealand and for many years was that firm’s national director of tax. “Michael Stanley brings considerable expertise gained from a long and distinguished career at Ernst & Young. We are very fortunate that he has accepted my invitation to join us as an adviser to the board.”
Caniwi is looking to acquire up to $50m of assets in 2009 and will shortly be announcing their first acquisitions.