Programme Day 1

Day 1 | Day 2

  • 08:00

    Registration and refreshments

  • 09:15

    Keynote address

  • 09:45

    Regional outlook: Asia private markets in 2019

    Asian private markets are finely poised in 2019, given global economic uncertainty, China-US trade tensions, and elections in several key markets. Meanwhile, dry powder available for deployment in the region stands at record levels as more managers come to market with larger funds and new strategies. Our panel of leading GPs considers the best ways to address the Asian investment opportunity.

    • What are the key economic challenges?
    • How is the industry landscape changing?
    • Is the line between PE and VC becoming blurred?
    • Which geographies and strategies are the most competitive?
  • 10:45

    Networking coffee break

  • 11:15

    Finding the right fit: Southeast Asia PE strategy

    Southeast Asia is a multi-tiered private equity market, with pan-regional, sub-regional and single country managers addressing often very different opportunity sets and challenges. The market remains relatively shallow, which means a large fundraise or investment can distort the headline numbers, but the amount of capital directed at Southeast Asia and average deal sizes are both increasing. Our panel discusses which strategies work best.

    • Are family-owned businesses becoming more receptive to PE?
    • Is a country approach preferable to a thematic approach?
    • To what extent is rising competition putting pressure on valuations?
    • Are we going to see more secondary buyouts in Southeast Asia?
  • 12:00

    Fundraising in Southeast Asia: A mid-market story

    With many of the region’s GPs in the market with new funds, LPs don’t lack for choice. But in the absence of substantial track records, raising capital for Southeast Asia-focused vehicles has not always been easy. And there is no consensus view regarding optimal fund size, strategy, and geographic coverage. Our panel of mid-market managers offers insights into how to sell the growth story.

    • How do GPs in Southeast Asia differentiate themselves?
    • Geographical diversification or deep-rooted concentration?
    • What questions come up most often in LP due diligence?
    • How important is co-investment in the middle market?
  • 12:45

    Networking lunch

  • 13:45

    Fireside chat



  • 14:15

    Building successful companies: The PE value-add

    As private equity has grown in Southeast Asia, so has the range of investment angles – from corporate carve-outs to succession planning situations to capital and assistance for cross-border expansion. Managers must accumulate the resources and expertise required to address these situations, and then convince sellers that they can make a meaningful difference. A collection of accomplished entrepreneurs and GPs share their experiences.

    • How do you forge strong partnerships with owners and management?
    • What are the most common operational pitfalls in Southeast Asia?
    • How do you ensure alignment of interest when exiting?
    • To what extent do entrepreneurs’ perceptions of PE match the reality?
  • 15:00

    Networking coffee break

  • 15:30

    Venture capital: A fast-changing landscape

    Southeast Asia’s technology ecosystem continues to gather momentum, drawing policy support from governments that recognize the role start-ups can play in driving innovation and attracting more capital from private markets investors. It has been a meteoric rise, but the journey is far from complete. Our panel considers what is required to sustain the growth and how it can be achieved.

    • How has competition evolved in the VC ecosystem?
    • What is happening to valuations?
    • What is being done to close the late-stage funding gap?
    • Which investment themes are most attractive?
  • 16:15

    Technology trends: Southeast Asia goes digital

    Disruption is rife in Southeast Asia, with start-ups providing digital solutions for inefficiencies across travel, banking, transport, healthcare, and education. Investors need to stay ahead of the curve – not just by uncovering new ideas, but also identifying teams capable of bringing them to life. VCs and entrepreneurs discuss doing this in a market that varies in terms of economic development and technology penetration.

    • What are traditional businesses doing to protect themselves?
    • To what extent are logistics and payments still a bottleneck?
    • Has it become easier to scale up a business in the region?
    • What will be the next big technology breakthrough?

  • 17:00

    Close of Day 1 and networking cocktails