Having the right support and systems in place can pay dividends in terms of flexibility and enabling teams to focus on the core competency of the fund:  managing investments.  At the same time, regulations are constantly changing with respect to taxation status in particular, and LP informational demands continue to evolve:

• What is the optimum fund framework and domicile for investing in Asia’s different geographies?

• What are the special reporting challenges for domestic currency denominated funds? 

• How are fund managers responding to LP demands for clearer, more timely reporting?

• Compliance issues arising from continuing changes to “Topic 820” and similar legislation

• What is the impact of the global clampdown on tax havens, for PE funds and their investors?

Dominic Jones, Managing Director, ALTER DOMUS
Brian M. Mcdaniel, Partner, GOODWIN PROCTER LLP
Tim Mann, Head of Asia Fund Administration, MOURANT

The pendulum of power continues to swing back and forth between PE fund managers and their LP investors. In uncertain times prudent managers seek to maintain a constant dialogue with the existing investors and the wider market. This panel examines:

• Facebook and Twitter for fund managers: How to initiate and perpetuate a conversation with your LPs
• The impact of the ban on placement agents in the US on fundraising globally
• How to raise funds in a depressed market—and how to ensure drawdown limitations don't apply to you
• A peek into LP investment committee meetings: How are the hard decisions made?
• The likely impact of ILPA’s white paper on fund terms.

Moderator

Sebastiaan van den Berg, Principal, HARBOURVEST PARTNERS (ASIA) LIMITED
Panelists
Johannes Schoeter, Founding Partner, CHINA NEW ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT
Doug Coulter, Head of Private Equity, Asia-Pacific, LGT CAPITAL PARTNERS
Rodney Muse, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, NAVIS CAPITAL PARTNERS
Kanad S. Virk, COO, STANDARD CHARTERED IL&FS ASIA INFRASTRUCTURE GROWTH FUND

The global downturn has seen a flurry of activity at the portfolio company level, with fund managers seeking to protect their existing investments before venturing more capital on new ones. While on one front this signifies a laudable singularity of purpose, on the other, some are asking whether it might be too little, too late:

• Is the prevalence of “non-control” deals in Asia underpinned by a genuine business case or a lack of interest / ability on the part of PE fund managers to effect change at portfolio companies?
• What are the philosophical and practical differences between firms which embed operating partners in their portfolio companies and those who operate a more hands-off approach?
• Case studies: Practical examples of how GPs have effected change at portfolio companies and lessons learned
• Is there a deal size band which requires more hands-on management than the rest?

Mark Qiu, CEO & Managing Director, CHINA RENAISSANCE CAPITAL INVESTMENT INC
Chris Hasson, CEO, JOHNSON ELECTRIC CAPITAL
Brian Bunker, Managing Director, Asia, RIVERSIDE ASIA PARTNERS
Jae-Woo Lee, Founding Partner, VOGO FUND

The foundation for deal completion and the restructuring, honing, pruning and growth that follows it—due diligence forms the basis not only of decision-making, but also future planning. But it's also expensive and time consuming. Experts in the field consider:

• How to identify the areas which need close inspection in the business you're buying
• Different types and techniques for due diligence
• Case studies of different industries and different regions: Typical risk profiles
• Risk mitigation

Shiv Dalvie, Managing Director, AEA INVESTORS LLC
Brett Rochkind, Principal, GENERAL ATLANTIC
David Shen, Managing Director, OLYMPUS CAPITAL HOLDINGS ASIA
Vinit Bhatia, Partner, Co-head of Private Equity Group for Greater China, BAIN & COMPANY

The final hurdle to achieving those top decile, vintage returns: Having a clear, flexible and, above all, executable exit plan is crucial to the success of the PE Industry as a whole and each fund in particular:

• Futurology: How to determine the exit from the outset?
• How to keep your options open and avoid exit-limiting vehicles and instruments?
• LP liquidity: Are we seeing the emergence of a transparent, permanent, secondary market?
• If pricing on Asian and the world's bourses is no longer dictated by some version of the Efficient Markets Hypothesis, can fund managers legitimately assume an exit via IPO?

Carlo Caiani, Executive Director, CAIANI & COMPANY PTY LTD
Liang Meng, CEO, Greater China Private Equity, D.E. SHAW
Fredrik Åtting, Sr. Partner, EQT PARTNERS ASIA LTD
Jagannadham Thunuguntla, Equity Head, SMC CAPITALS LIMITED