Antony Catalano and Alex Waislitz’s View Media real estate media and tech company has attracted a $50 million investment from banking giant ANZ.

The commitment by ANZ Group Holdings follows a “significant investment” from Seven West Media six months ago, on top of that of Catalano and Waislitz Australian Community Media.

The company says the regional publishing business provides VMG with “the audience reach and financial resources” to scale its operations and target opportunities in Australia’s $300 billion-a-year real estate transactions market.

ANZ and VMG have also agreed to look at a strategic alliance in financial services, with the possibility of both investing further to target the mortgage market and other consumer finance products.

Catalano, who is VMG’s executive chairman, said the ANZ investment was “a clear endorsement” of the VMG business and the strategy they have set to disrupt the real estate transactional market. “To receive financial backing from one of Australia’s largest companies speaks volumes for the work the team has done to build a major new player in the real estate media and technology sector.

“I’m personally very excited to have their backing and can’t wait to deliver on our plans, not only to generate shareholder value for them but operationally, a steady stream of financial services customers from across the VMG property ecosystem.”

Waislitz, who is co-owner of ACM and executive chairman of his Thorney Investment Group, said he was grateful for the confidence ANZ chief executive Shayne Elliott and his team had shown in the new venture. “With ANZ’s involvement adding to the already active participation of Seven West Media, we are now well on the way to creating Australia’s most exciting real estate prop-tech business.”

ANZ will take a board seat, with the funds to be used “for investment in scaling up the business, product development and future growth opportunities.”

Catalano (pictured) said following establishment and a couple of acquisitions in 2022, “serious move” were planned for 2023: “When you combine the investments from ANZ, Seven West Media and ACM, the acquisitions of The Today Business and AD Group, along with the existing assets including realestateview.com.au, we are pulling together all the elements we need to make a serious impact in the real estate and financial services categories.”

He said the businesses coming together at VMG would “build the digital real estate superstore of the future” in which all property-related transactions can be undertaken seamlessly on one site. “You’ll be able to buy, sell or rent, but in addition you will be able to get a mortgage, insure the home and contents, connect and disconnect utilities and book trade services.”

Photo: ACM/Canberra Times