SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA and MONTRÉAL, June 7, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) announced today it is acquiring a 44% interest in Greenstone, one of Australia's leading insurance distributors. Under the continued leadership of its two founders, Richard Enthoven and Gavin Donnelly, who will remain majority shareholders in the Greenstone business.
Since it was established in 2007, Greenstone has focused on developing simple and affordable insurance products for the Australian public. This positioning has enabled Greenstone to quickly become a leader in the direct distribution of life and pet insurance. Its unique customer-focused technology platform has earned the Company extensive industry recognition.
"The investment in Greenstone is aligned with our objective to further the development of businesses that are industry leaders and stand out through innovation, said Roland Lescure, Executive Vice-President and Chief Investment Officer of CDPQ. "With this transaction, we will once again team up with high-quality partners in Australia, one of our priority markets. We're planning to contribute both capital and global industry know-how".
"We have been looking for a long-term partner keen on contributing to the Company's ongoing development and growth. CDPQ's solid reputation of investing in high-performing companies and its considerable expertise in our industry ensures this partnership will continue to strengthen our business," said Richard Enthoven, Greenstone's Executive Chairman.
CDPQ's strong presence in Australia
CDPQ has been active in Australia since 2012. In addition to having made close to ten investments in social infrastructure with its partner Plenary, it acquired, in 2015, approximately 25% of Transgrid, the electricity transmission network of the State of New South Wales and 30% of the Port of Brisbane in 2013. CDPQ also invested in I-Med, the Australian largest private medical imaging network. In 2015, Ivanhoé Cambridge, its real estate subsidiary, also acquired 25% of Liberty Place, a high-quality office building complex located in Sydney.
In 2015, CDPQ opened an office in Australia that operates under its subsidiary, CDPQ Sydney.
Greenstone is headquartered in Sydney and provides simple and affordable life, funeral, income protection and pet insurance to over 400,000 Australians.
The transaction is subject to Foreign Investment Review Board approval.
ABOUT CAISSE DE DÉPÔT ET PLACEMENT DU QUÉBEC
Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) is a long-term institutional investor that manages funds primarily for public and parapublic pension and insurance plans. As at December 31, 2015, it held CAD 248.0 billion in net assets. As one of Canada's leading institutional fund managers, CDPQ invests globally in major financial markets, private equity, infrastructure and real estate. For more information, visit cdpq.com, follow us on Twitter @LaCDPQ or consult our Facebook or LinkedIn pages.
SOURCE Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec
JEAN-BENOIT HOUDE, Senior Advisory, Media and Public Relations, + 1 514 847 5493, [email protected]
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