Direct Capital NZ

The Todd Family of New Zealand traces its origins to 1884 when Charles Todd set up a wool export operation in Central Otago. Today, Todd Corporation is one of the most successful New Zealand conglomerates, and it and other parts of the Todd Family remain one of the most active investors in New Zealand. There are two major elements to the Todd family's business operations. The first is Todd Corporation. The second is a family investment vehicle managed by external fund managers. Todd Corporation has diverse interests including substantial investments in Energy (primarily direct stakes in New Zealand gas fields), Mining, Property (urban land development) and Healthcare (Integria). Todd Capital has investments in areas as diverse as media, agriculture, retirement villages and telecommunications.

New Zealand investment platform providing vetted deal flow and facilitating capital raising for companies and funds. Investors make their own investment decisions; Snowball Effect does not provide investment advice.

Maui Capital is an Auckland based private equity firm that invests alongside founders in Australian and New Zealand businesses. Maui takes both minority and majority (control) positions in a wide variety of industries. Maui especially likes industry aggregation opportunities, business turnarounds, and companies with significant growth potential including offshore expansion.

Waterman Capital is a private equity investor into mid-market New Zealand based businesses. Waterman makes both controlling and non-controlling investments for the purpose of acquisitions, expansions, restructuring, succession planning or simply a change of ownership. We are active investors and provide in-house operational resources to our investee companies.

Pioneer Capital is a private and growth equity fund focused on New Zealand businesses. We focus on New Zealand businesses managed by highly capable teams, expanding in large international markets, earning meaningful revenue and delivering high value products and services to their customers. Typically these businesses export the majority of their products and services. We support our investee businesses with both capital and strategic involvement alongside management. We have contributed to growth on every occasion. For example, we have assisted in: setting strategic goals; hiring executives and directors; making acquisitions; refinancing; tracking market developments; assessing public market options; managing difficult situations; and identifying and engaging in-market partners, customers and specialist co-investors.

Pencarrow Private Equity is one of the most experienced private equity investors in Australasia. Pencarrow focuses on investments into mid-sized New Zealand based businesses across a range of sectors. Pencarrow has raised a total of six funds since founding in 1993, including its latest $250m fund closed in 2018.

Goldman Sachs is a diversified financial institution. Its Asset Management business provides investment and advisory services across public and private markets, including alternatives; in 2026, it acquired venture-capital platform Industry Ventures.

Blackbird is an Australia and New Zealand venture capital firm backing ambitious technology companies from the earliest stages through later growth. It invests across software, deep tech, climate, fintech, health and other technology-led sectors, with portfolio companies including Canva, SafetyCulture, Culture Amp, Zoox and Halter.

Knox Partners is a NZ-based mid-market private equity manager investing in companies headquartered in Australasia. Knox is a hands-on strategic investor, supporting organic and inorganic expansion and operational improvement. Knox concentrates on businesses with enterprise values of between $25-200m within a wide range of industries. Knox adds value and facilitates profitable change through management buyout, ownership change, growth and acquisition funding. Each opportunity needs to demonstrate stable operating earnings, future growth potential and partnership requirements whereby the Knox capabilities, beyond invested capital, can enhance value outcomes.

Comval invests in leading commercial cleaning and facilities management companies in the New Zealand market.