From lab coat to deal sheet: celebrating Michael Kakanis’ journey to Director

17.9.2024

We’re thrilled to announce the promotion of Michael Kakanis to Director at InterFinancial and his recent appointment as Co-Chair of Healthcare at Clairfield International.  

Michael’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. Working as a lecturer in Physiology and Biochemistry while completing his PhD in Immunology, Michael was all set for a long career in Academia. But in 2017, he took a leap of faith and left behind a promising career in science to explore the dynamic financial industry. Along with a CFA Level 1 under his belt, Michael was determined to get his foot in the door.  

After countless coffee catch-ups and a fair share of setbacks, Michael’s persistence paid off when our Executive Chair, Sharon Doyle offered him a 10-day internship. This opportunity quickly translated into a part-time analyst position, and from there, Michael’s career path took off.  

Since then, Michael has been lucky to work across various sectors, both on the buy-side and sell-side, including financial services, defence, IT services & software, professional & engineering services, mining technology & services. However, it is in the health services and technology space that Michael has truly found his niche. His expertise in M&A over the years has seen him drive some key deals at InterFinancial, such as: 

  • Alliance Automation: Michael achieved an exceptional outcome for the client while navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.  
  • National Veterinary Care: Michael’s first public-to-private deal saw him deliver outstanding results while collaborating with a fantastic team.  
  • Microba: A cross-border buy-side deal with a strong scientific core in a rapidly emerging field, a space where Michael’s passion lies. 

Please join us once again to congratulate Michael on his well-deserved promotion and recognition. We are proud to have him on the team and represent us on a global stage at Clairfield International. He’s truly an inspiration to all of us at InterFinancial! 

28.5.2025

Sector dashboards May 2025

Our monthly sector dashboards are out! Our dashboards look at the valuation multiples across seven key sectors, each made up of a number of subsectors. The data takes into account the sale prices of similar companies based on; products, end markets, services, assets classes or other characteristics. The publications include all companies listed on the […]

Read more
28.5.2025

What geopolitical uncertainty means for M&A in Australia?

Over the past six months, global uncertainty has escalated significantly. Trade wars, continued conflicts in Europe and the Middle East and market volatility have dominated our press. The M&A landscape in Australia is not insulated from the effects of these issues.   These issues have introduced a new set of challenges for dealmakers. But amid the […]

Read more
28.5.2025

Celebrating 15 years with Mark Steinhardt

From running shorts to suits and ties, Mark’s built a career defined by endurance, focus and momentum. Joining InterFinancial in 2010, Mark has worked his way up to Executive Director today. Known for being sharp, strategic, and approachable, he’s earned the trust of both clients and colleagues through his ability to solve complex problems and […]

Read more
28.5.2025

Metrics that matter: What tech investors are looking for? (Part 2)

In our last article, we revealed four of the key metrics that investors use to evaluate software businesses. We focused on Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR), ARR Growth Rate, Gross and Net Revenue Retention, and Gross Margin. These indicators are often the first place investors look when assessing the strength and potential of a SaaS or […]

Read more
30.4.2025

Sector dashboards April 2025

Our monthly sector dashboards are out! Our dashboards look at the valuation multiples across seven key sectors, each made up of a number of subsectors. The data takes into account the sale prices of similar companies based on; products, end markets, services, assets classes or other characteristics. The publications include all companies listed on the […]

Read more
30.4.2025

The Australian M&A Outlook 2025

The Australian M&A market has been on a real journey over the last few years, marked by extreme highs, some cautious retreats, and now what feels like a slow and steady return to more stable footing.   After the turbulence of the COVID-19 era, it’s fair to say we’re entering a new chapter, with fresh opportunities […]

Read more
30.4.2025

Metrics that matter: What tech investors are looking for? (Part 1)

If you’re reading this article, you’re probably in a position where you’ve built a great software business. Between endless product and engineering sessions with your teams, customer escalations and sales meetings you’ve probably given some thought, or maybe a lot, about what the next step in your business will be. Most of the time, that […]

Read more
30.4.2025

Employee Q&A: Manisha Kaur

It’s hard to believe it’s already been a year since Manisha Kaur joined the InterFinancial team as our Marketing Coordinator! In just 12 months, she’s brought a fresh perspective, data-driven mindset and a can-do energy to everything she does, from campaigns and branding to behind-the-scenes systems that keep our marketing function a well-oiled machine.   As […]

Read more
31.3.2025

Sector dashboards March 2025

Our monthly sector dashboards are out! Our dashboards look at the valuation multiples across seven key sectors, each made up of a number of subsectors. The data takes into account the sale prices of similar companies based on; products, end markets, services, assets classes or other characteristics. The publications include all companies listed on the […]

Read more