Australian Capital Equity
| Kerry Stokes AC |
|
|---|---|
| Born |
John Patrick Alford 13 September 1940 Melbourne, Victoria |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Net worth |
 A$2.223 bn (2014 BRW)
|
| Spouse(s) | Dorothy Ebert (div.) Denise Stokes (div.) Peta Toppano (div.) Christine Simpson |
| Children | Russell, Raeline, Ryan and Bryant |
Kerry Matthew Stokes AC (born 13 September 1940) is an Australian businessman. He holds business interests in a diverse range of industries including electronic and print media, property, mining, and construction equipment. He is most widely known as the chairman of the Seven Network, one of the largest broadcast repeating corporations in Australia. He was awarded Companion in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AC) in recognition of his contributions to Australian business.
Kerry Stokes was born John Patrick Alford on 13 September 1940 in Melbourne, and was adopted out to Matthew and Irene Stokes. In June 2000, Stokes told the ABC, "My background was very difficult, very hard and I wouldn't wish that on anybody. I had lots of different occupations and obviously lots of different experiences. I had some time on the street, and sometimes, work was very difficult. Australia, in that period of time, wasn't a place where you could actually easily go and get a job, it was difficult, and we went where there was work available".
Stokes' first reported job was to install TV antennas in Perth, followed by a sustained period in property development throughout the 1960s and 1970s. He also developed a range of shopping centres in Perth and regional Western Australia with partners Jack Bendat and Kevin Merifield.
His private company, Australian Capital Equity (ACE), is the holding company for Stokes' interests in a diverse range of Australian and international businesses and ventures covering property, construction, mining and petroleum exploration.
He invested in the Caterpillar franchise in Western Australia (Wigmores Ltd) in 1988, and the company now called WesTrac, has equipment dealer franchises in Western Australia, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and nine provinces across China, with the total number of employees close to 4,000 people, as well as 500 apprentices in Australia.
In 2007, Stokes formed a joint venture with The Carlyle Group to acquire the equipment hire group Coates Hire Ltd from National Hire Ltd (over 50% owned by WesTrac)
Stokes has always had a keen interest in the pastoral industry and acquired the 4,047 square kilometres (1,563 sq mi) Napier Downs station stocked with 20,000 head of Red Brahman cattle from Peter Leutenegger in 2015 for an estimated A$23 million to A$40 million.
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