The Private Equity 2015 Conference

Anticipated Topics: topics will be confirmed as and when speakers confirm their presentations.

PE as an asset class – success or failure what lies ahead

• Key trends in 2015

PE Fund – terms, fees and structures

• Fund raising environment – challenges
• Current trends
• Topical issues
• Challenge from SWFs – how real?

The PE Investor’s perspective

• Where are the hot areas (Eastern Europe, Southern Europe, Real Estate, Distress)
• GP / LP concerns – what are the key concerns (transparency, communication, strategies)
• Challenge from Direct Investing – real or phantom

Financing trends – large caps

• Developments in the Loan market
• Developments in the Bond markets

Financing – mid-market

• Show me the money
• Trends on types of debt
• Leverage and pricing
• Is ABL a viable alternative

Alternative Lending – here to stay?

• Market structure & players
• Direct lending
• Permanent player or fleeting challenge
• What can they offer
• What are they looking for

The Regulatory environment

• Impact of the new regulatory avalanche
• AIFM – as bad as feared
• Basel III
• Solvency II
• European Markets Infrastructure Regulation (EMR)
• Dodd-Frank

Adding Value to the Portfolio company

• Key issues for adding value on entry
• How and where does PE add value in the operational phase
• Creating a balance Board / Team
• What are the key attributes for PE managers
• How relevant is sector experience

The exit environment – good, bad ugly?

• IPOs – is the market overheating (Lessons post Debenhams)
• M&A – is it working
• Refinancings – bonds
• Refinancings – loans

Infrastructure – the time is right?

• Does the PE model work for Infrastructure
• How is it adapting
• What are the hot sectors
• to the business model

Property – feast or famine

• Light at the end of the tunnel – or is it a mirage
• Target sectors
• Funding challenges and opportunities
• Accounting changes impact on funds

Distress / Restructuring

• How have players capitalized on the opportunity
• Key drivers of market opportunity
• Nature of the opportunity – best years ahead?
• Impact of proposed tax changes by HMRC

Role of ESG

• Why it matters to Funds
• What investors are looking for
• Can it add value
• Where does it add value

Taxation issues in Private Equity

• Where are we now
• What are the key areas
• What’s on the horizon
• What action should PEs consider

Secondary Funds

• Where’s the market heading – up or down
• Rationale – rebalancing, liquidity, exit, change in strategy?
• What value does it add
• Future trends

P2Ps

• Have changes to the Take-over code marked the death of P2Ps
• Does it matter
• What does the future hold
• PIPEs – Can / should minority stakes work

Deal origination – past and the future

• Review of last year – where were the deals
• Hot target areas
• Hot target sectors (Healthcare, energy)