Programme - Limited Partners' Summit, 12 November
Private Equity Leaders' Summit | Venture Capital Summit | Limited Partners' Summit | Investment Summit (Day one) | Investment Summit (Day two)
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Tuesday, 12th November 2019
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08:00
Registration
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08:50
Opening remarks
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09:00
Setting the scene (Joint session with the PE Leaders’ and Venture Capital Summits)
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09:30
Asian private equity: What next? (Joint session with the PE Leaders’ and Venture Capital Summits)
Given how sentiment withered as 2018 wore on, it comes as little surprise that 2019 has thus far been characterized by uncertainty. Concerns about the macro climate, high valuations, and unclear paths to exit are primarily to blame. GPs want to be sure their thesis is watertight before pulling the trigger, which means more time spent on due diligence and value creation plans. Our panel of top investors assess the current state of the market.
- What positives can be drawn from 2019?
- How are managers looking to differentiate themselves?
- Is it still a seller’s market? What is the key to a successful exit process?
- What is the outlook for the next 12 months?
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10:30
Networking coffee break
Sponsored by:
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11:00
Insider view: The Asia story
Asia has become a compelling part of a PE portfolio as more managers back up attractive growth stories with stable track records. For some LPs, the next step is diversification by country, sector and niche. While concerns about a downturn remain, establishing strong partnerships with managers that prevail across cycles is the cornerstone of an institutional approach to the asset class. Our seasoned investors explain the thinking behind their current portfolios and future allocation plans.
- Have macroeconomic conditions made it harder to make allocations to Asia?
- What makes an LP comfortable enough to move beyond pan-regional managers?
- Which geographies and strategies are most attractive from a diversification perspective?
- What questions are being asked of GPs that you weren’t before?
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11:45
Insider view: The Venture play
Capital has flocked to VC strategies in Asia as LPs look to penetrate a larger portion of the technology value chain, backing start-ups from early stages to maturity. This has enabled incumbent managers to raise larger funds, but the space is becoming increasingly populated as corporates ramp up investment activity and teams spin-out from established VCs. LPs explain how they make sense of the venture opportunity and identify managers that can take advantage of it.
- How do LPs track technology ecosystems?
- China vs India vs Southeast Asia – what are the pros and cons?
- Should VC investors embrace or avoid late-stage tech?
- What are return expectations for recent vintages?
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12:30
Executive address (Joint session with the PE Leaders’ and Venture Capital Summits)
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13:00
Networking lunch
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14:00
Secondaries: An evolving playing field
Asia’s secondaries market has stepped up a level in the past couple of years, with a noticeable uptick in activity, greater innovation in transaction structure, and several blue-chip GPs seeking secondary solutions. On the LP side, the strategy remains popular among Asian investors, whether they are looking to build private equity exposure or – to a lesser extent – seeking to rebalance their existing portfolios. Our panelists chart the evolution of the market.
- Why are more high-profile managers turning to secondaries?
- Which geographies offer the most potential for GP restructurings?
- Restructuring, strip sale, or preferred equity – what guides decision-making?
- What are the key issues when pitching secondaries strategies to Asian LPs?
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14:45
ILPA principals 3.0- An update on the most recent guidelines and the impact for LPs
Since the ILPA Private Equity Principles were first published in September 2009, the industry has undergone fundamental changes. The industry has become fully regulated in the US and Europe, and embraced transparency, in particular around costs. At the same time, fund structures have become more varied and complex, and the continuing evolution of GPs and their platforms presents unique challenges to alignment of interests. The latest edition of the Principles, released in June 2019, tackles a number of these changes with aspirational recommendations intended to strike greater balance in GP-LP relationships. Steve Nelson, CEO, ILPA, will share an up-close look at the key ideas and implementation of ILPA’s Principles 3.0 and how these will impact the LP community globally.
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15:15
ESG: Developing the right approach in Asia
Addressing environmental, social and governance concerns within a private equity portfolio requires more than just a boilerplate policy. Institutional investors increasingly want to see detailed annual reporting that sets out ESG objectives on a case-by-case basis, explains approaches to monitoring and measurement, and captures meaningful performance. Our panel of early ESG adopters share their thoughts on moving from box-checking to substance, what it has meant for GP relationships, and the nuances apparent in Asia.
- Should LPs ask different questions of GPs based on geography and strategy?
- What constitutes industry best practice in terms of reporting?
- Are the UN sustainable development goals the best way to track performance?
- Is impact investing the next step for ESG or should it be viewed separately?
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16:00
Networking coffee break
Sponsored by:
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16:30
Asian venture capital: A new maturity (Joint session with the PE Leaders’ and Venture Capital Summits)
Levels of development vary markedly across Asia’s venture capital markets, but all are to some extent benefiting from growing investor interest – domestic and international, high net worth and institutional – in the asset class. The combination of maturity and the scope to participate at more points along the value chain as start-ups stay under private ownership for longer is encouraging diversification in strategy and skillsets. Investors operating in different markets share their tips for success.
- In which geographies, and at what stages, are valuations a major concern?
- What are the implications of Chinese VCs entering other markets in Asia?
- How creative are firms being in terms of fund structure and strategy?
- What is the exit outlook for the next 12 months?
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17:15
Institutional perspective: How Asian LPs view the world (Joint session with the PE Leaders’ and Venture Capital Summits)
Asian investors have become a mainstay of the alternatives space. Those with more advanced programmes have built up strong in-house skills and become active co-investors, with direct investment the next priority in select areas. For more recent arrivals, the challenge is choosing where and with whom to allocate capital, always conscious of j-curve mitigation. Our panellists explain how their approaches are evolving and what managers must do to win favour from Asia.
- What do Asian LPs want from their alternatives programmes?
- What can be done to access top managers in developed markets?
- Where do ESG, diversity and impact investing fit on the agenda?
- What are the major frustrations when dealing with GPs?
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18:00
Close of summit
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18:15
Cocktail reception
