2023 Agenda

17:30  ‘Peer-to-peer learning’ roundtables 

• Supporting management teams in delivering the exit process
  Facilitators: Aidan Robson, Partner, Endless and Simon Russel, Founder, Trinity Square
• How to streamline deal processes for maximum returns    
  Facilitators: James Markham, Senior Partner, Graphite Capital and Shivani Khandekar, Reporter, Real Deals
• ESG – what has been actioned from COP27, and where to now?
  Facilitator: Xhulio Ismalaj, Reporter, Real Deals

Networking drinks
 

Chair’s welcome remarks 
Taku Dzimwasha, Editor, Real Deals 

Keynote presentation
Jacqueline O'Donovan, Managing Director, O'Donovan Waste Disposal Limited

Dinner

Activity – choice of yoga or running

Registration and networking breakfast

Welcome remarks
Taku Dzimwasha, Editor, Real Deals 

Keynote presentation: what does value creation mean to me and our firm
Marco Ferrara, Operating Partner, Limerston Capital 

Opening panel session

Investment cycle and value creation process

• How to leverage data to identify value-creation drivers
• Adaptable business model and strategies for long-term value – risks and challenges
• How do investments respond to societal challenges?
• What are the financial value and performance metrics that need to be captured during an investment?

Moderator
Greg Gille, Head of Product, Real Deals Media

Speakers
Lorenzo Levi, Managing Director and Operating Partner, CDPQ
Bradley Jones, Senior Investment Management, Earth Capital
James Smallridge, Director, Soho Square Capital

Panel session

Buy-and-build

• How to pick the right acquisition and stand out from the competition
• What’s a winning strategy for buy-and-build?
• Identifying challenges to create opportunities

Moderator
Taku Dzimwasha, Editor, Real Deals 

Speakers
Emma Flin, Investment Director, Sovereign Capital Partners
Sam Ellis, Portfolio Director, Growth Capital Partners
Jane Grewar, Partner, Limerston Capital
Paul Reading, Partner, Mayfair Equity

Networking break 

Keynote interview – Cybersecurity
Interviewer
Taku Dzimwasha, Editor, Real Deals 

Interviewee
Ash Patel, IT Director, Head of Cyber, ECI

Case study: – Cybersecurity in practice

• Impact of a breach
• Examples of portfolio approaches to managing the risk
• Latest view on impact within processes

Speaker
John Hammond, Director, Northedge

Networking lunch

Fireside chat – Diversity and engagement in leadership to drive more value

• Women and diversity – are PE firms adopting a more inclusive approach? And who is not, and why not?
• How are ethnicity and background perceived?
• Social diversity and differences in the US, Europe and Asia
• What does diversity mean for LPs? What are they asking for?

Moderator
Ruby Biring, Head of Talent, Livingbridge

Speakers
Dennis Hall, Partner,  Global Head of Portfolio Management, Baird Capital 
Victoria Brown, General Counsel, AnaCap

STREAM A
Workshop: Creating value upside from pricing

• How to focus on pricing as a key value driver – strategies and market inertia
• How can PE firms manage the inflation and fluctuation of the market? 

Discussion Leaders:
Valerie Wong, Director, AnaCap

James Markham, Senior Partner, Graphite Capital

STREAM B
Workshop: Internationalising after Brexit

• How has Brexit affected small, midsize and large PE firms in the UK when exporting? What are the challenges? And opportunities?
• How PE firms’ business strategy and their specific target as investors, in specific locations, has changed so far
• International investor sentiment towards Brexit and new rules
• Is the UK still the most attractive destination for financial services investments?

Discussion Leaders
Diana Marr, Director, Keyhaven
Hugh Minnock, Investment Director, Foresight Group

Coffee and networking break

STREAM A

Workshop: Acquiring and retaining talent – what’s new?

• What are the requirements for a talent profile? Do PE firms need different capabilities now? What in particular?
• What’s more important for talent, a firm’s culture or a good package? 
• How do firms incentivise to retain talent?

Discussion Leaders
Ben Cole, Director, FPE
Jasmine Megson, Head of Origination and Talent, CGE Partners

STREAM B

Workshop: Data challenges in value creation

• Collection of data – how accurate is it?
• Are PE investors ready to use data scientists and platforms for their activities?
• How can we enable companies to digitalise more? 
• Explainable AI – how do PE firms use machine learning?
• Do more small PE companies plan to use machine learning? Markets and other opportunities presented by climate change?
• Can financial returns and climate impact go hand in hand?

Discussion Leaders
Sam Price, Portfolio Manager, Bowmark Capital
Owen Pagan, CEO, Planr

Panel session

A deep dive into the ‘E’ of ESG as a value driver

• What are the actionable performance indicators to reduce climate change that could drive value?
• Carbon footprint calculated during an investment – what is the real value for investors?
• Are electricity and waste costs always included in a business model?

Moderator
Jovana Stopic, Director, IK Partners

Speakers
Bettina Denis, Head of Sustainability, Revaia 
Stine Jørgensen, Impact Manager, Verdane
Robert Sroka, Partner, Head of Value Enhancement Team, Abris Capital
Giancarlo Beraudo, Partner, Ambienta

 Interview

Energy market in Europe

• How are management teams adjusting to the current European energy market?
• What are the social impacts of energy cost inflation?

Interviewer
Laura Heely, Principal, Three Hills

Interviewee
Archer Kilpatrick, Principal, Actis

Closing remarks