The event will feature first-rate panelists and keynote speakers from the world's top private equity and venture capital firms
INSEAD, the leading international business school, today announced that its 7th Annual Private Equity Conference will take place on Friday 22 May 2009 on the school’s Fontainebleau campus. This conference is the largest student-organised private equity and venture capital event in Europe, and provides an exceptional forum for discussions of the latest developments, market conditions and key issues that will impact and shape the industry for years to come.
Attendees will have the opportunity to explore and debate timely industry issues with leading private equity and venture capital professionals. Panel discussions will cover a variety of topics, including changes in the private equity model, green/clean tech investments, European mid-market buyouts, infrastructure investing and distressed assets. Hosted by J. Frank Brown, Dean of INSEAD, the conference features over 40 speakers including Peter Cornelius of AlpInvest Partners, Nicholas Bloy of Navis Capital Partners and Karen Wilson of the Kauffman Foundation, among others.
This year’s conference comes at an opportune time to discuss the state of the industry and its future development. After witnessing some of the largest deals in history in 2006 and 2007, private equity and venture capital firms now find themselves in a markedly different situation with a worsening economic outlook and significantly tighter credit markets.
‘It’s no secret that the private equity and venture capital industry has undergone considerable change as a result of the financial crisis,’ said Julian Ratcliffe, President of the INSEAD Private Equity Club (IPEC). ‘This conference provides both current and future finance professionals the chance to hear from some of the most prominent figures in the industry and gain a better understanding of evolving industry dynamics.’
Since 2003, the INSEAD Private Equity Conference has grown to be the largest and most successful private equity and venture capital event hosted by an academic institution in Europe. Its success has grown as a result of INSEAD’s large network of over 1,000 alumni working in the industry worldwide, INSEAD’s extensive relationships with top firms, the presence of leading finance faculty and the school’s highly-talented students.
This conference aims to highlight INSEAD’s commitment to developing a wider understanding of the private equity and venture capital field and enhance the school’s position as a leading source of industry professionals.
About INSEAD Private Equity Club (IPEC)
The INSEAD Private Equity Club (IPEC) is organised by MBA participants and serves as a world-class forum for students interested in all aspects of the private equity industry. IPEC’s goal is to provide opportunities for its members on both the Fontainebleau and Singapore campuses to learn about private equity, interact with key industry players, and meet fellow students and alumni with similar interests. With over 1,000 INSEAD alumni working in private equity firms worldwide, IPEC’s goal is to support INSEAD’s thought leadership, participation and recognition in the field by assisting an increasing number of INSEAD MBA graduates who are pursuing an exciting career in or related to private equity.
