Celebrating its 25th anniversary as a private equity fund manager this month is Melbourne's Advent Private Capital.

With more than 90 individual investments in private companies, Advent is one of Australia's longest running private equity firms. Granted an MIC license in 1984 as Western Pacific Management Company Pty Ltd, the firm went on to establish a management company in partnership with Advent International of Boston, USA and subsequently listed Advent Limited on the ASX.

In 1997, the Advent management team negotiated a management buyout of the management company and raised Advent lll Private Equity Limited, a Pooled Development Fund.

Advent's investment staff collectively have 82 years in the private equity industry. Advent has weathered market downturns as well as cyclical upturns: from the '87 stock market crash - to the 90's recession - to the dotcom shakeout - to the present global financial crisis.

Successful exits from investments in strongly performing businesses led to further growth in funds under management with Advent raising Advent IV in September 2002, which at A$115 million, was the largest Australian private equity fund at that time.

Currently Advent has over A$400 million in funds under management and is currently investing its fifth fund, Advent V, a A$300 million fund raised in December 2006.

Landmark investments in Advent's history include:

• Ayers Rock Resort: the iconic Northern Territory hotel complex;
• Cochlear: developer of the bionic ear;
• Sydney Aquarium: the renowned themed attraction in Sydney Harbour;
• Vision Systems: producer of the laser airborne depth sounder;
• Primary Healthcare: now one of Australia's largest medical service providers;
• Taverner Hotel Group: a consolidator of leading hotels;
• Sleepmaster: Australia's foremost manufacturer of bedroom products; and
• ACIL: a market leader in foreign aid project management.

Advent's current stable of investments including - IPG, ISIS, Locker Group, Regency Media, SCADA Group, Securepay, SJ Electric and UGM - demonstrate Advent's continued focus on leading Australian mid-market businesses with excellent management teams.

Click here for further information regarding Advent.