http://www.avcjmiddleeast.com/

Tuesday, 21 April 2009
8:00 /	Breakfast and registration
8:50 /	Chairman's welcome
9:00 /	Opening keynote address Ben Simpfendorfer, Chief China Economist, ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND
9:30 /	Keynote panel—The evolution of private equity: Will the Middle East sustain its progress? Private equity firms in established Western markets are feeling the pressure of the global economic slowdown. The years of free flowing capital and abundant leverage are gone. General partners are now returning to basics and focusing their talents and energy on more hands-on management skills and value add. Despite the relatively robust and liquid home markets, Middle Eastern firms have not been unaffected. Will what's happening in the US, Europe and Asia be a harbinger of things to come? Seasoned dealmakers from the Gulf and beyond discuss: What is happening in the established private equity markets now? How are local private equity firms coping with the change? What lessons can be learned and applied to the GCC? Moderator Nicholas Moy, Group Chairman, GRYPHON INVESTMENT BANK Panelists Samir Assaad, Head of Private Equity, ADIC PRIVATE EQUITY Alok Gupta, Managing Director & CEO, AXIS PRIVATE EQUITY Johannes Schoeter, Founding Partner, CHINA NEW ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT Nils Haugestad, COO, EVOLVENCE CAPITAL Hossam Shobokshi, Managing Director, Private Equity, Middle East & North Africa, STANDARD CHARTERED BANK
10:45 /	Coffee / tea networking break
11:05 /	Family offices: Their role, reach and results In the Middle East family offices are responsible for the custodianship of over US$1 trillion of capital that needs to be put to work. These offices have no direct public liability as all of their shareholders are descendants of a common ancestor. As such, their legal requirements and regulatory framework differ significantly compared with conventional financial institutions. Yet many of these offices are still uncomfortable with the concept of investing in private equity funds and their role in a balanced portfolio. Our global panel of experts examines: The role of private equity in a family office portfolio Choosing the right funds: Global vs. regional portfolios—the pros and cons The similarities and contrasts between Middle East family offices and their Western counterparts Moderator Savio S. Gomes, Investment Advisor & General Manager, RUSMALLAH CONSULTING COMPANY Panelists Jay V. Jegannathan, Director, GATEWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES LIMITED Fritz Becker, CEO & Managing Director, HARALD QUANDT HOLDING GMBH Abdulaziz A. Jazzar, Managing & Executive Partner, MALAZ GROUP
11:50 /	Energy for the next 50 years The Middle East produces the majority of the world's crude oil. Yet even with their vast reserves, supplies are limited. Analysts are predicting that based on current rate, the supply of this valuable commodity will run out in 60 years. The opportunity to fund alternate sources of energy and power sources that are needed to power the next generation represents tremendous opportunities for private equity investors not only in the Middle East but around the world. Our expert shares his views on the subject. Speaker Shiraz Bugwadia, Director, Healthcare & Energy, O3 CAPITAL
12:05 /	Saudi Arabia: Open for business For the second consecutive year, Saudi Arabia has held the number one position in the World Bank's 'ease of doing business' rankings in the Middle East. Improvements to business and property registration procedures, protection of public company investors, reduction of port fees, stricter deadlines for bankruptcy procedures and the recent signing of the WTO agreement are all testament that the Kingdom has come a long way. In addition, the newly established foreign investment law, SAGIA, shows the country's eagerness to encourage foreign investment. The Gulf's biggest economy has bigger plans yet: to become one of the top ten most competitive nations in the world by 2010. Our panelists explore: The challenges, opportunities and strategies for private equity investment in Saudi Arabia Deal flow and privatisation Sectors of interest: Agriculture and infrastructure Moderator Ali Tabbara, Partner & Managing Director, NEXIA INTERNATIONAL Panelists Zulfi Hydari, Co-Founder & Group Managing Director, HBG HOLDINGS
12:50 /	Luncheon
14:30 /	Growth capital: The key to GCC and Middle East opportunities? Private equity deals in the Middle East are growing in size, with an emphasis on value creation and available opportunities for exits. The amount of funds raised and the likelihood that LPs in the future will switch from larger funds to smaller ones imply that the private equity industry has to secure additional deals of larger size. But with the market downturn, the focus has shifted to growth capital/minority investments. Panelists consider: How does growth capital play a role in the Middle East? Are there still opportunities? Challenges for growth capital investors in the Middle East Developing multiple exits and realising returns Moderator H. Richard Dallas, Managing Director, Private Equity, GULF CAPITAL Panelists Aamir A. Rehman, Director, FAJR CAPITAL Imad Ghandour, Executive Director, Private Equity & Head of Strategy & Research Department, GULF CAPITAL Yahya Jalil, Head of Private Equity, THE NATIONAL INVESTOR; Sr. Executive Officer, TNI DUBAI LTD
15:15 /	The new private equity silk road: Investing in CHIME and beyond The emerging CHIME (China, India and Middle East) investment axis made several advances this year with deals in retail, telecoms and real estate. Chinese companies are expanding into the Middle East while Gulf companies eye assets in the world’s most populous nation. As for India, the Middle East's interest in the subcontinent remains strong and will be a prime destination for the estimated US$9 trillion the Gulf countries have to invest by 2010. Our panel of investors discusses: China post-Olympics: Where should you be investing? India: Human resources and investment targets Opportunities in other parts of Asia Moderator William Knight, Founder Partner, EMERISQUE CAPITAL Panelists Johannes Schoeter, Founding Partner, CHINA NEW ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT Gulpreet Kohli, Managing Director, CHRYSCAPITAL Ying Xia, Partner, IDGVC PARTNERS
16:15 /	Coffee / tea networking break
16:45 /	Secondaries enter center stage Institutional investors are curbing their appetites for private equity funds as they search for liquidity in their portfolios by selling parts of their existing portfolio. With an estimated US$100 billion of limited partnership stakes needing to find new owners, a number of secondary funds are currently in the market raising capital. Many investors though, are still unfamiliar with secondary funds or have outdated perceptions of how they operate. Representatives from leading secondary funds give you the latest update on their niche of the market. Speaker Matthew Arkinstall, Investment Director, GREENPARK CAPITAL
17:00 /	Limited partners panel: Appetite for Middle Eastern PE As the recessionary environment takes its toll on the economy, private equity partnerships are starting to feel the pinch. Unlike the good old days, when profitable opportunities were plentiful and LPs readily signed cheques, fundraisers are now having a challenging time raising money. Yet with its relatively nascent markets, Middle East funds seem poised to produce superior returns. Will there be larger allocations to GCC funds or will LPs continue to prefer trusted international brands? Local and international institutional investors share their views on: Where they are investing and why? The role of secondaries in the Middle East private equity industry How do the Middle East GPs compare with those in other regions? Panelists Arnaud de Cremiers, Partner, ADAMS STREET PARTNERS Jay V Jegannathan, Director, GATEWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES LIMITED Gordon Hargraves, Partner, RHO FUND INVESTORS
17:45 /	Conference concludes
18:00 /	Cocktail reception

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