Programme Day 1
Day 1 | Day 2
Registration and refreshments
Conference registration
Keynote address
Private markets in 2018
Capital has been flooding into the private market asset class globally, enabling firms to raise ever larger funds, this – coupled with the availability of cheap debt – has contributed to ambitious deal-making. As competition heats up, it will be crucial for GPs to remain disciplined in their approach and to pay the right price whilst creating a value creation thesis to maximize returns. Our panel examines the world in 2018 and beyond, the impact events have had on Asia, and what private market managers can do to prevail in these conditions.
- How is geo-politics affecting the investment landscape?
- What opportunities offer the best returns?
- How can mid-market GP differentiate itself?
- How is the exit market evolving?
Networking coffee break
Private equity’s role in the Belt and Road Initiative
The Chinese government’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) continues to gain momentum, with investments in the economies along the ‘Belt’ and the ‘Road’ surging in the last two years. While the focus is currently on infrastructure and related projects, new investors are always looking towards emerging opportunities across various sectors that will enhance transnational connectivity and resolve the long-term development needs of BRI countries. The investment potential is enormous but complex. Our panel of senior policy makers and investment professionals highlight the opportunities which will emerge over the next five years.
- What are the potential mid-to-long term investment opportunities triggered by BRI? How can private equity investors play a role?
- What new policies and enhanced initiatives are in the pipeline to facilitate BRI- related investments?
- Where are the most attractive opportunities for financial investors, and how can funds ‘get in the game’?
- What are the key challenges encountered – from deal sourcing to deal execution– and how can they be overcome?
Fireside chat
The rise of control deals
There has been a rise in the number of large-cap deals in Asia in recent years. It is also fair to say that the volume is still far below the expectations or potential of the market. Competition is heating-up, as a greater number of global and regional GPs set their sights on the market as a key destination for them to deploy dry powder. In this session, a panel of leading GPs share their views and predictions on the buyout opportunities.
- What does the pipeline for deals look like in 2018 and beyond?
- How competitive is the market and how do you differentiate yourself from the competition?
- What sectors are most attractive and open to private equity?
- Has collaboration with family conglomerates increased over deal sourcing?
Networking lunch
Disrupt or be disrupted: Singapore as a hub for innovation and technology
Drones, artificial intelligence, autonomous driving, artificial reality, and virtual reality –each one has the potential to revolutionise traditional industries. The question for investors, is how can they identify the next wave of technologies and harness their disruptive power, and whether that means enhancing existing portfolio companies, or working with entrepreneurs to create new ones. Our panel of experts share their views on how, when, and where innovation will come to the forefront as a catalyst for change.
- What technology shifts will have the most impact over the next 5-10 years?
- When should investors act to access the best opportunities?
- Which sectors present the greatest risks and rewards?
- What are the opportunities in deep tech?
Southeast Asia exits: A timely boost?
With Southeast Asian private equity and venture investment on the rise, the only blemish on an otherwise successful regional story is the lack of IPOs, as trade sales currently dominate the exit route. However, the recent NYSE listing of Sea (formerly Garena) seems to illustrate a path for current and future crops of companies looking for exits and with some eye catching deal numbers involved, it is a matter of when rather than if the IPOs will come through.
- What is the state of capital markets across the region?
- How to find an optimal exit route, given the limited IPOs?
- What is the LP view on exits, and does it weigh negatively on the region?
- How have GPs sourced exit routes, and when should this process start?
- What does the Sea IPO mean for the regional ecosystem?
Networking coffee break
The evolution of credit and debt as an asset class
Funds are increasingly focused on the debt market, as they react to banks tightening up on lending and further diversifying their product offerings. Next to private equity, private debt is expected to deliver the highest returns over the next three to five years. With a strong appetite from LPs, private equity and specialist players are moving to establish offerings to exploit this opportunity. The panel will explore the macro factors that are contributing to the rise of debt-oriented strategies and direct lending, and how LPs can access this opportunity.
- Where does private debt fit into an LP's allocation strategy, and are these allocations increasing?
- Are distressed-debt and credit opportunities now a significant part of the private equity business?
- Is venture debt emerging as a mainstream asset class in some markets?
- How attractive are non-performing loans (NPLs), high yield bonds, defaulted bonds, and NPL securitisations for GPs?
- With global GPs and funds of funds now establishing debt funds, will domestic players follow suit?
Investor selector: What do LPs really look for in a GP when deciding where to commit their money?
In this interactive, educational, and enjoyable session, an LP representative will ask three GPs a series of unrehearsed investment-related questions that influence their firm’sdecision-making process when selecting a fund. Each of the GPs will have an opportunity to respond and convince the LP that their fund, focus, and investment philosophy willprovide the best returns. To add to the excitement, the GPs’ identities will not be revealeduntil the LP has picked a winner.
