The Private Equity 2012 Conference – Recent Deals & Current Trends

Confirmed Speakers from:

Primary Sponsor:

Sponsorship Package Media Partnership Press Passes

Welcoming note from the chairman:

This conference builds on the very successful Private Equity conference organised by Redcliffe in September 2011 which saw 240 delegates receive insightful presentations from a range of leading industry experts.

The private equity industry has in recent years faced considerable challenges, many of which will continue to shape the landscape for deal-making over the short and medium term. The plethora and scale of private equity funds raised prior to the downturn has sustained the industry during a period of considerable economic difficulty; however, with the investment period of those funds now drawing to a close, the industry is faced with a new series of tests. Private equity professionals will be looking for ever more innovative ways to demonstrate a successful track record ahead of seeking new capital. The high number of general partners raising funds in 2012, amid the continued uncertainty of the Eurozone crisis, and a further wave of anticipated restructurings are likely to accelerate change within the industry.

This conference draws together senior level industry experts from reputable international firms and will include commentary on recent deals, current trends and topical issues. Participants will have ample opportunity to question the speakers and to debate the most important and pressing topics of today’s markets. Presentations from leading investment professionals, advisers, bankers and lawyers will cover the issues shaping the private equity industry both now and in years to come.

I look forward to welcoming you on the day of the conference.

Simon Tilley,  Managing Director at DC Advisory Partners – Financial Sponsors Group

08:15 – 08:45 Coffee & Registration

09:00 Chairman’s Opening Remarks

Simon Tilley, Managing Director – Financial Sponsors Group, DC Advisory Partners

09:10 Private Equity Performance & Future Trends/Predictions

Rob Pulford, Managing Director – Financial Sponsors Group, Goldman Sachs International

• Current developments
• Future trends
• Challenges
• Opportunities

Questions & Answers

09:40 PE: How and where do they add value ?

Nick Sanders, Head of Portfolio, Better Capital LLP

• Maximising value at entry
• Generating value through ownership: Operational, cash flow & profits
• Strategies for realising value at exit: hard and soft exits
• Managing the Management; the key ingredient

Questions & Answers

10:10 Debt Financing trends and challenges

Peter Bate, Director – Corporate Finance KPMG LLP

• Current state of debt markets in Europe
• Trends in leverage and pricing cross the capital structure
• Traditional funding sources; loans, bonds & mezz
• New players in the market: hedge funds

Questions & Answers

10:40 Morning Coffee & Networking Opportunity

11:00 Restructuring PE: the next round looms

• Meeting the refinancing wall and other catalysts
• What will drive the market in 2013 and beyond
• Where are the hot sectors; retail. real estate?
• CoMi and the UK as the European magnet for restructuring

Questions & Answers

11:30 Distressed opportunities & the valuation conundrum

Justin Bickle, Managing Director, Oaktree Capital

• Strategies for extracting value distressed assets
• Factors affecting the investment decision
• Valuation conundrum: issues affecting valuation of distressed assets
• Case study: Bavaria Yachts, Feretti etc.

Questions & Answers

12:00 LP Perspectives

• How do LPs view Private Equity asset class in the current market?
• What do LPs expect from the LPs
• Where are the best opportunities: sectors and regions
• Key issues for GPs to improve their GP/LP relationships
• How have LPs used their increasing influence?

Questions & Answers

12:30 Lunch & Networking Opportunity

14:00 Infrastructure: end of the beginning or beginning of the end ?

• Is there a future for PE investment in Infrastructure
• What form will the Model take
• What sectors offer most promise
• Has Political risk been properly discounted?
• An opportunity for private investment

Questions & Answers

14:30 PE Fund terms: Change in the wind

Josyane Gold, Partner, SJ Berwin LLP

• Hot topics for LPs
• Recent changes to Funds’ Ts & Cs
• How are Infrastructure fund terms evolving vs traditional PE
• Impact of SWF
• Side letters: on the increase

Questions & Answers

15:00 Afternoon Tea & Networking Opportunity

15:20 Responsible investment: why it makes sense

Tom Rotherham, Director – Private Markets, Hermes Equity Owned Services Ltd

• Environmental, social and governance factors: de-risking the portfolio
• The context, evidence and examples
• Case Studies
• How to start integrating ESG
• The Long-term picture: what do (some) LPs want?

Questions & Answers

15:50 Generating deal flow

• Generating deal flow in competitive markets
• The impact of Trade buyers: help on exit, competition on entry
• Exits: key trends
• Dealing with headwinds in IPO and M&A market

Questions & Answers

16:20 Tax issues in the Global Environment

• Current developments in UK and Abroad
• How will development abroad (US, Sweden) affect the UK
• Recent changes
• Future developments

Questions & Answers

16:50     Chairman’s Closing Remarks

Simon Tilley, Managing Director – Financial Sponsors Group, DC Advisory Partners

Please note that this event is a conference and not a training course. Participants will listen to many expert speakers and will have the opportunity to ask questions, but there is no formal training, exercises or tuitional material being delivered. Should this be your objective, Redcliffe organises several training courses in this and related subjects. Please click here for full details.