Chris Flavell

Initially studying physiology and biochemistry in his homeland of Aotearoa, Chris pivoted into business, where he now gets to combine his personal passions with professional acumen. Even though Chris has held key investment, banking, merger and acquisition and advisory roles for JPMorgan and Ord Minnett, don’t call him a banker or an accountant!

His strategy experience includes: industry restructuring; M&A and divestments; capital raising; project development; and project and structured finance. Sector experience spans energy, power, exploration, resources, infrastructure, manufacturing, distribution and retailing.

Chris’ guiding principle for Ara Capital is that the team is not in this business merely for a transaction. It is on-board for the full expedition, working alongside founders and investors in the businesses Ara Capital engages with for the entirety of the relationship.

As Director of AraCapital, Chris brings this passion and commitment to his focus on accelerating the uptake of renewables, sustainable development initiatives, healthtech and growth companies in the energy transition space.

Chris understands the growing pains of founders and needs of investors, courtesy of growing AraCapital as a private capital investment and management vehicle which now has in excess of $100 million in assets under management. Chris has also played a key role in the establishment of companies across Asia in sectors such as investment banking and hydro and geothermal power.

Chris’ transaction experience includes: over $4 billion of M&A transactions; over $7 billion of debt and hybrid transactions; and over $2 billion of equity raising.

Chris believes all parties involved in capital partnerships, investments and advisory relationships should be aligned and incentivised, fairly and equitably. This view was borne of his investment banking background during the New Zealand Government Asset Corporatisation and Privatisation programme and the Treaty of Waitangi. Chris played a pivotal role in the settlement and repatriation of land to the Ngai Tahu tribe in New Zealand – Chris’ tribe – including the establishment and governance of structures to manage tribal assets.