The Fund consists of the following entities:
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Excelsius Asset Management ("EAM") being the responsible entity holding the AFSL (No. 506202);
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Excelsius Funds Pty Ltd ("Excelsius Funds") being Trustee of both the Mortage Investment Fund and Property Investment Fund, and authorised representative (No. 001263741) under the above licence held by EAM; and
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Excelsius Finance Corporation Pty Ltd ("Excelsius Finance") being the Investment Manager of both the Mortgage Investment Fund and Property Investment Fund, and authorised representative (No. 001263740) under the above licence held by EAM.
Excelsius Funds was created out of a desire by a network of individuals, to build a strong financial services business that could be a genuine alternative to the major banks and the large financial services groups - a finance and licensed investment business that would not only have considerable financial strength, but, at the same time, build a reputation as being transparent, professional, fair and approachable, both by borrowers and investors.
The individuals behind Excelsius Funds are a committed group of professionals, with many decades of experience between them, in finance, law, accounting and business, having built successful reputations in their respective fields. They are each fully committed to working on building significant financial services business in Melbourne, as well as the rest of Australia, and in creating investment opportunities that are not only attractive in terms of returns, but are also stable, secure, and with the interests of investors as a first priority.
The directors, investment committee and management team at Excelsius Group, together with Mr Paul Kellahan, the Funds' Responsible Manager, have significant experience in successfully structuring, documenting and managing mortgage and property managed investment schemes. The Excelsius Group successfully originated and managed approximately $35 million in loans in 2017, in a privately owned finance business. It was out of the success of that business, and the requests by many professionals to "open up" mortgage and property investment opportunities to other wholesale and sophisticated investors, that Excelsius's licensed funds management business was created.
About us
Meet the team
Adam Ballan
Chief Executive Officer
Adam has extensive experience in lending, property development and construction and business.
He has over 15 years' experience in undertaking significant property development including a number of successful land subdivision and townhouse developments
in and around Melbourne.
Adam also has a number of years' experience in managing large business in agriculture.
Adam's excellent knowledge from direct experience in structuring and managing building developments, and his experience in this area is invaluable in originating, monitoring and managing construction loans
for the Fund.
Angelo Conti
Chief Legal Advisor,
Key Person (AFSL/ACL 506202) &
Compliance & Credit Committee
Angelo is a partner of the respected Melbourne legal firm, Madgwicks Lawyers. He has over 25 years of experience in the areas of finance, litigation (particularly securities recovery), insolvency and restructuring. During his many years as a partner, he has acted for various lenders, receivers and managers and other insolvency administrators in connection with loan debt recovery litigation as well as dealing with complex insolvency administrations involving the realisation of assets with competing security interests.
Angelo and his team at Madgwicks, are responsible for carrying out the legal due diligence, structuring, advice and documentation for all transactions by the Fund.
Angelo will sit on the Credit Committee and monitor and overview the legal operations of the Fund, and assist with Fund compliance.
Angelo holds a Certificate IV in Finance and Mortgage Broking, and has satisfied ASIC Regulatory Guide RG146 compliance requirements.
Mr Paul Kellahan
Responsible Manager
Paul was firstly a career banker having been employed for 33 years in senior executive roles with Westpac in Australia, London, New York, Singapore and Toronto.
Post-Westpac, Paul was Australia & New Zealand Head of Project Finance for Mizuho Bank, and was a Divisional Director of AIDC Ltd, a publicly listed project financier owned by the Commonwealth of Australia.
Paul played an active role in many project financing arrangements:
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Federal Airports Corporation - arrangement & placement of a large Bond & Promissory Note Programme.
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CGE - financing for a $132m water treatment plant, with Sydney Water as the off-take party and provider of a 25yr fixed to floating interest rate swap arrangement.
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Sanctuary Cove Commercial & Residential Resort, QLD - development & construction of the circa $500m development.
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Tangara Trains (NSW Govt) - arrangement of multiple cross-border tax effective leverage leasing arrangements.
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Docklands Stadium, Melbourne. (now Marvel Stadium) - financing of construction & development.
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Adviser (acting in a personal capacity) to a Singaporean bank as a lead manager in privatisation of CitiPower, Victoria.
Post Paul’s banking career, for the past 23 years and on-going, Paul has been actively involved in the funds management industry, having been the CEO and/or the Responsible Manager/Key Person on the AFSL’s of several Responsible Entities.
Michelle Gill
Funds Administration
Manager
& Compliance Officer
Michelle has over 35 years experience in office administration and business management, and handles the day-to-day administration needs of both Funds, including investor relations,
loan administration, budgeting, cashflow projections, reconciliations, and assisting with
project management.
Michelle has worked in various industries including finance, media/digital printing, management consulting, transport & logistics, stockbroking, IT and also has over
8 years experience as a law clerk.
Michelle administers our loan management system, finPOWER Connect, and has also had experience in selling and supporting this software.
Vince Rizzo
Investment, Credit and
Risk Management Committee
(Non Executive Member)
Vince established Acorn Consulting Group in 1989. Today the firm has a specialist team offering accounting, taxation, structuring and
business advice.
The depth of Vince's experience enables him to support clients by understanding the problem and then developing the best solution synergies. His flexible and an insightful approach to the creation and implementation of financial models, deal structuring and transactional management, provides private clients and companies the reassurance of a hands on style.
Vince knows what matters. The long standing relationship that Acorn has with many of its clients is testament to Vince's reputation as a dynamic thinker who helps clients achieve their goals.
His passion for delivering excellent advice for individuals and companies undergoing the challenge of change, is a hallmark of Acorn's client service philosophy.
Sam Cimino
Investment, Credit and
Risk Management Committee
(Non Executive Member)
Sam Cimino is a Director of Boss Private Clients and is a Fellow member of CPA Australia.
He first commenced in public practice in December 1985 after taking a part time position with a small suburban Melbourne based accounting practice whilst still in the last year of his accounting degree. He has been in the public practice arena working for private clients ever since.
Between 1987 and 1992 he worked as a senior accountant with a medium size accounting firm then known as Stanton Partners, based in St Kilda Road, Melbourne. In 1992 he founded a South Melbourne based accounting practice with two of his university colleagues. He was a principal of that practice until Boss Private Clients was founded in July 2007.
Sam is determined to find a solution for clients. Having been in the private client space for 29 years, he understands the challenges faced by business owners, and has a very hands-on approach. His view is that it all begins with the structure plan, and that the structure plan is what helps clients to navigate their way through the maze of regulations, and to shield them from the commercial exposure that every business clients must confront.