Corporate Advisory & Investment
LightHorse Group is an independent, Australian owned and operated professional services firm, with offices in Sydney and Canberra. Our corporate advisory and investment business provide M&A advice and execution, capital investment for growth and funds management services with a specific focus on national security and defence companies operating in areas including: support & sustainment, cybersecurity, defence technology, defence aerospace, training & simulation, advanced materials and defence services.
LightHorse Group is an independent, Australian owned and operated professional services firm, with offices in Sydney and Canberra.
Advisory
Our core corporate advisory business provides domestic and cross-border services to public and private companies on business sales, capital raisings, mergers, takeovers, acquisitions, divestments, capital market activities, restructurings, strategic planning, comprehensive financial analysis, and risk management solutions.
Funds Mangement
Our funds management business arranges and manages bespoke investment opportunities in the national security and defence sectors for wholesale Australian-resident investors. The investment team provides a complete skill complement, combining deal sourcing, structuring, due diligence (legal and commercial), financing and operational.
CORPORATE & STRATEGIC ADVICE
Company Sales, Acquisitions
PRIVATE CAPITAL RAISINGS
FUNDS MANAGEMENT
Meet the LightHorse Team
Christian Nicks
Managing Director
Ilenna 'Elle' Copley
Consulting Director
Lachlan Holman
Analyst
Lachlan is pursuing a Bachelor of Economics / Advanced Studies in Financial Economics and Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Sydney. Lachlan has entered and won numerous international investment banking competitions including 1st at the NIBC Global Investment Banking Competition, 1st at the Point72 Oceanic Hedge Fund Competition, 1st at the Pinnacle National Investment Management Case Competition and s2n at the Macquarie Private Markets Competition. Previous to joining LightHorse, Lachlan worked as a Healthcare Investments intern at Antipodes Partners and an investment banking analyst at Evolution Capital
Noah Rooney
Analyst
Previous to joining LightHorse, Noah worked for McR Defence (a consulting division of McCullough Robertson Lawyers) where he worked on strategy, M&A and commercial projects for organisations in the defence sector. Noah is currently studying a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Business (Finance Major, Economics Minor).
Kim Gillis AM
Kim Gillis AM served as Deputy Secretary Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group where he was responsible for CASG’s portfolio of acquisition projects and sustainment products that procure and sustain materiel capability for the Australian Defence Force. Prior to joining the Department of Defence, Kim was vice president and managing director of Boeing Defence Australia. Kim is the Chairman of the UK defence company, Ultra Group and was previously Chairman of Cobham (owned by Advent International).
Brett Sangster
Joe Felter III
Mark Donaldson VC
Mark Donaldson VC is an Australian soldier and a recipient of the Victoria Cross for Australia. On 25 January 2010, Donaldson was named the 2010 Young Australian of the Year. After receiving the award, Donaldson continued to serve in the ADF until 2017.
Mark Stanbridge
Mark has over 30 years experience as a M+A lawyer and was a partner at Ashurst for over 25 years. He is a specialist in cross-border and international M+A and private equity. He was twice a finalist in the Australian Dealmaker of the Year (2016 and 2018) and is recognised in numerous legal directories. As part of his role he has advised boards of many major companies. Mark is a director of The Australian Rhino Project and Impossible Foods Pty Limited, and was formerly on the advisory board of Idea Spies.
Matthew C. Freedman,
Matthew is currently senior advisor to the incoming U.S. Indo-Pacific Commander. A national security expert focused on economic development, security, military and intelligence Matthew served as a Senior Civilian Advisor to numerous USG agencies at the highest levels. Over the past 43 years he has worked in or advised 15 federal government in the national security arena including but not limited to: Departments of State, Defense, Army, Navy, Air Force, Executive Office of the President (NSC and OMB), US Special Operations Command, Defense and Central Intelligence Agency. In the recent past, he was the Senior Counselor to the Secretary of the Army. He has also worked as an operating partner for a NY based PE firm.