operators
kindred partners sits at the intersection of permanent capital, quality businesses, and talented & aligned operators
Kindred Partners is a lean holding company that seeks attractive investment opportunities while entrusting operational decisions and execution to the management teams within our subsidiaries.
We’re uncovering a high number of compelling opportunities. Unlocking these opportunities requires win-win partnerships with operators who want to be owners, and who align with our values, approach and time horizon.
We seek managers who are customer, team and stakeholder-obsessed, long-term focussed, innovative and adaptive, return-oriented and operate with expense and capital discipline. That is, we seek managers with a demonstrated record of behaving like an owner. You will not work for us, but with us - we will partner in the best interests of the business.
Our decentralised model offers autonomy and independence, trusting and empowering skilled and energetic entrepreneurs of strong character. We do not impose synergies or integration. Shunning bureaucracy, we provide appropriate accountability, oversight and governance guardrails. We support our managers with time, resources, advice, capital, best-practice sharing, and care because we understand that leadership can be lonely.
Importantly, we are meritocratic. Operating partners are highly incentivised and participate in long-term value creation. We recognise performance and reward it handsomely.
If you're a searcher, a proven manager capable of more than your current employer can or will offer, and if you’re willing to back yourself and have skin in the game then please reach out, we’d love to hear from you.
CULTURE & VALUES
Our strategic and operational decisions and actions are downstream from our values. These ten values are our glue and guardrails.
Kindness: In life, the kindest person wins.
Trust: Reliable handshakes trump lengthy contracts.
Open: To curiosity, to change, to discussion, to learning, to feedback.
Compounding: Focussed and continuous incremental improvement.
Win-Win: Be helpful and create value for all stakeholders.
Alignment: Ownership and accountability.
Quality: Excellence is our standard.
Gumption: Handle hard well and keep showing up for each other.
Simplicity: Demanding mastery and creativity.
Fun: Revel in the journey.
operating partner criteria
Principled principal. An owner, not an agent.
Willing to have skin in the game, risking shared exposure to the downside as well as returns from the upside.
Attracted to meaningful work, and being appreciated for it.
Never satisfied. Action-oriented, relentlessly seeking improvement in themselves, in their team, and in their business.
Resourceful, waging war against waste.
Lifelong learner, fuelled by humility and curiosity.
Long-term oriented, practicing reliability and deferred gratification.
Transparent, delivering bad news and highlighting problems quickly.
Willing to ask for help when required.
Fun team-player, caring for and contributing to others while prioritising the interests of their team and their business above their own.
INVESTMENT CRITERIA
Our open mandate allows us to consider any opportunity, but these are our preferred criteria.
Simple business offering an essential and non-deferrable product or service to its customers. To us, boring is beautiful.
Long and consistent history of $1-10 million in annual cash earnings generated from a broad set of recurring customers at healthy margins.
High - ideally improving - returns on equity while employing little debt.
Favourable long-term prospects given a strong, defensible market position and durable value proposition.
Proven, aligned managers and engaged employees with low turnover.
Headquarters in Australia.
Full or partial sale, with a preference for a majority position in partnership with the existing or incoming management team.