In this episode, Grant McHerron and Ewen Levick, Associate Editor for ADM, talk with Mark Stevens from Arican on the growing involvement of private equity in Defence industry.

We start with Mark summarising his career from uniform into Defence industry and on to establishing Arican. This leads into a discussion on the increased activity in the Defence industry, the opportunities and challenges of dealing with Defence and how private equity can assist Defence industry. Mark also identifies the importance of helping the large pool of private equity funds learn about Defence industry and identifying opportunities where the goals of various funds can align with those of Australian Defence SMEs.

We then discuss how engagement with a private equity fund can bring more than just capital, including active management to help an SME develop and grow, which leads to assessing how private equity manages its exit strategies within Defence industry. Mark outlines how Defence industry can engage with private equity funds, the challenge of addressing classified information and the importance of aligning the fund's goals with those of the business.

The episode wraps up with a discussion of private equity's ability to increase Australia's sovereign capability within Defence industry and its potential role in growing new Australian primes. Mark also notes the need for Defence to improve its engagement with Australian primes.

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Hosted by Grant McHerron

Producer - Steve Visscher

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