About Us
The Montarello
Family Office
Tuscan Equity is the primary investment vehicle for the Montarello Family Office, focused on technology-driven businesses with sound fundamentals and long-term growth potential.
Tuscan Equity owned ThinkSmart was founded by Ned Montarello in 1996 as a specialist digital payments platform. The business grew its Australian "RentSmart" point-of-sale finance operations internationally into the UK, Europe and the US before successfully listing in Australia in 2007.
It migrated its listing to AIM in the UK and launched its "Clearpay" Buy Now Pay Later product in 2017. Afterpay acquired 90% of Clearpay in 2018 and subsequently purchased the remaining 10% as part of its acquisition by NYSE-listed Block Inc in early 2022. Montarello-owned Tuscan Equity privatised the ThinkSmart business in December 2022.
Pioneering digital POS finance in Australia. EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award, 1998.
International expansion — UK with Dixons and HBOS, followed by Europe and the US.
$204m ASX IPO. Migrated to UK AIM in 2016 following sale of Australian operations.
Launched Clearpay in the UK. 90% sold to Afterpay in 2018; remainder into Block Inc shares.
Tuscan Equity established to take ThinkSmart private via Scheme of Arrangement.
Tuscan Equity, as the primary investment vehicle for the Montarello Family Office, along with its sister entity Barbera Capital, will look to utilise its experience in the Financial Technology sector for similar strategic investments in great disruptive businesses leveraging innovative Technology, AI and Blockchain platforms.
We target businesses with solid financial and growth prospects, with a view to long-term capital appreciation and participation in future dividend yields.
Philanthropy
Giving something back
Each year, we are committed to allocate a portion of our resources to support a range of charitable organisations and causes that align with our values and goals.Ned and Kim Montarello Founding Benefactors — St John of God Foundation Cancer Centre
Tuscan looks to investments in ESG responsible companies, supporting sustainable and ethical business practices that promote long-term growth and success for all stakeholders.
Executive Producer. A documentary raising awareness of important social issues surrounding Australia's offshore detention policy.