Agenda

Opportunity and Adaptability- Driving growth and value in a rapidly changing market

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Registration and networking breakfast
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Chair’s welcome remarks

Anjana Haines, Editor, Real Deals

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Opening panel: Political risk – creating value in uncertain times
  • Assessing the impact of Trump’s reforms and new regulations on dealflow and cross-border trading in the UK.
  • Examining the effects of new tax policies and financial regulations in the UK, EU and elsewhere on PE firms and portcos.
  • How can private equity firms keep value creation strategies on track during times of political uncertainty?
  • How are access to finance and interest rates limiting a portfolio company’s ability to drive growth?

Speakers:
Aidan Robson, Managing Partner, Endless
Charlie Lyon Carroll, Investment Director, IW Capital
Dr. Manfred Puffer, Operating Partner, Apollo Global Management
Mathieu Frison, Partner, Charterhouse Capital Partners

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Panel: Overcoming value creation barriers with adaptive and collaborative approaches
  • How can firms adapt value creation plans amid compressed valuations and rising interest rates?
  • What are the barriers to effective collaboration between PE managers and portcos, and how can they be addressed?
  • How can cooperation between deal teams and operating groups be improved, and why do governance initiatives occasionally fail?

Moderator: Nick Breadner, Partner, Eight Advisory

Speakers: 
Richard Haynes, Partner, Head of Value Creation Partners, LDC
Owen Cartier, Partner- Value Creation, Searchlight Capital
Maria Orlowski, Partner, Value Creation, GTO Partners

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Fireside chat: How critical is data protection and cybersecurity in driving growth and value creation?
  • What is the ROI for cybersecurity and data governance investments in boosting retention, operational efficiency and access to markets?
  • How can PE firms prioritise cybersecurity and data protection investments to enhance portfolio security and mitigate emerging risks for long-term value creation?
  • How can portcos tackle ransomware threats, data breaches and prevent disruptions?
  • How can data insights be used not just for risk management but also as a catalyst for innovation and value creation across portcos?

Speakers:
Maria Carradice, Managing Director, Specialist – Environmental, Social and Governance, Mayfair Equity Partners
Heyrick Bond Gunning,  Chief Executive Officer, S-RM

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Networking break
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Debate: AI hires – hype or here to stay?

Moderator: Visar Shabi, Principal, Bregal Milestone

Speakers: 
Gilad G. Amir, Digital Operating Partner, Pollen Street Capital
Tommy O'Sullivan, Managing Partner, Beach Equity

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Fireside chat: How can the ‘right talent’ fuel rapid value creation?
  • How to identify and secure the best talent that fits investment strategy?
  • How fostering a culture that encourages creativity and risk taking leads to faster value creation?
  • How HR tech platforms are streamlining recruitment, performance tracking, and employee engagement?
  • How do private equity firms balance the need for top-tier talent with the long-term strategic goals of portfolio companies?

Moderator: Tim Pointer Operating Partner, Three Hills

Speakers: 
Polly Barnes, Operating Partner, EQT Ventures
James Markham, Senior Partner, Graphite Capital

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Case Study: "Culture eats strategy for breakfast"

Value Creation – The Portco’s View.

Alison Jackson, Group Managing Director of events company Nineteen Group, gives the inside track on how Phoenix Equity's investment has helped drive growth over the last seven years. While it's been something of a buy-and-build spree, a significant push of organic and launch levers has also fuelled expansion. But how? He will also offer a glimpse into value creation plans for the next cycle, having opted for a ‘Season 2’ with the same GP.

Speaker:
Alison Jackson, Group Managing Director, Nineteen Group

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Networking lunch
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Stream A: Mastering the exit strategy: Unleashing value in a tough market
  • Timing of exits and the impact on GPs' ability to raise funds.
  • How are GPs adapting exit strategies to maximise value in uncertain times?
  • As exit timelines extend, how can firms focus on operational improvements to maximise value, instead of relying on multiple expansions?

Speakers:
Justin Maltz, Partner, Mobeus Equity Partners

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Stream B: How evolving due diligence shapes value creation in private equity
  • How can operational due diligence uncover growth opportunities and margin improvements to avoid common pitfalls?
  • What steps should managers take to get from diligence to a defined end state, before negotiating a share purchase agreement?
  • How will the role of technology diligence change in the next five years?
  • How do PE firms leverage diligence to drive value beyond just assessment?

Speakers:
Marco Ferrara, Operating Partner, Limerston Capital
Christian Schmehl, Managing Partner, Hypax
James Craig, Portfolio Growth Director, Growth Capital Partners
Steve White, Managing Director, Crosslake

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Workshops: Unbolt value through collaborative problem-solving

Facilitators
Lizzie Meadowcroft, VCP Director, Operations, Carve Out & Integration, LDC
Awais Shafique, Operations Director, FSN Capital
Dr. Manfred Puffer, Operating Partner, Apollo Global Management

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Networking coffee break
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Fireside chat: Driving value creation by exploring new markets
  • How to identify opportunities in high-growth regions like the Middle and Far East, Africa and India?
  • The importance of understanding cultural, economic and regulatory differences when entering new markets.
  • What are the methods of entering new markets – such as joint ventures, partnerships, or acquisitions – to maximise growth opportunities?

Speakers:
Valarie Monk, Risk & Compliance and Interim ESG Director, Montagu

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Chair’s closing remarks
Lawn games
Networking drinks
Dinner

Agenda

Opportunity and Adaptability- Driving growth and value in a rapidly changing market

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Welcome remarks

Anjana Haines, Editor, Real Deals

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Opening panel: ESG’s role in enhancing the value – what’s next for PE investors?
  • How PE firms can align their strategies with growing ESG requirements to drive long-term value.
  • How can PE firms turn compliance and policy shifts into opportunity? (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD)
  • Integrating ESG to create cost efficiencies and future-proof investments amid changing regulations.

Facilitator: Helena Hausen, Senior Investment Manager & Head of ESG, Beyond Capital Partners

Speakers:
James Brooks, Founding Partner, Stanley Capital
Anna Olsson, Head of Sustainibility, CapMan Plc
Jennifer Flood, Head of Sustainability (North America), Investindustrial

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10:20: Case studies: The power of AI for driving value creation and operational growth
  • What are the key barriers encountered when integrating AI into business operations, and how do GPs overcome them
  • Practical insights from obstacles met along the way, and how those lessons shape more effective AI strategies.
  • Beyond AI, how innovations like IoT are transforming operations and driving value creation?

Moderator: Nick Neil-Boss, Partner, Eight Advisory

Speakers:
Francois Candelon, Partner Value Creation and Portfolio Monitoring, Seven2
Lewis Bantin, Partner and Head of Commercial Team, ECI Partners

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Networking break
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Fireside chat: The LPs’ blueprint for value creation
  • How do LPs define value creation in the context of their portfolio companies?
  • How can GPs align with LPs to ensure their strategies meet both operational and financial goals?
  • What are LPs’ expectations from GPs when it comes to driving value creation?

Speakers:
Jamie Hayford, Principal, Pantheon
Chloe Webster, Vice President, HarbourVest

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Pair and share: Overcoming value creation challenges together
  • What has been your biggest value creation challenge in the past year?
  • How did you approach solving it?
  • What strategies or tools have you found most effective?
  • What lesson did you learn from the experience that others could benefit from?

FacilitatorRichard HaynesPartner and Head of Value Creation Partners, LDC

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Networking lunch
End of Value Creation Summit