Agenda

Registration and networking

​Chair welcome address

Opening panel discussion:
Diamonds are made under pressure: Operational leaders’ faced their greatest challenge in 2020, ensuring their teams could continue working in unprecedented conditions

• The pandemic placed huge pressure on the operational functions, and they rose to the challenge; ensuring the right tech stack, maintaining internal and external communications, reporting, valuations: has this impacted how operational teams are viewed internally?
• Technology has been more important than ever in navigating the crisis; has private equity finally embraced a more digital way of working?
• Has the pandemic changed the operational function permanently?
• How do LPs now view operational leaders? Are they more visible?

Panel Discussion:
Cultivating operational harmony

• Tracking the technological transformation of the operational function in today’s digital world
• Embracing change and making headway: how to take advantage of what tech has to offer?
• How integrating tech can help streamline business processes and improve workflow
• Developing and automating a single source of truth from portfolio company to investors

Coffee break and networking

Quick Fire Panel:
Increasing operational efficiency through tech integration

• Operational review: Why certain IT systems are more successful than others and selecting the right ones for your company

Tech Implementation case study series:
Practical know-how: Through looking at real life cases of a variety of managers in various stages of tech integration, we will explore different approaches and solutions.

Case study 1

Case study 2

Case study 3

Case study 4

Presentation:
Coping with the avalanche of regulation

• Tackling increased regulation at this point in the cycle: From ESG to reporting requirements and dealing with the ‘regulatory burden’

Panel Discussion:
Gaining regulatory perspective:

• Approaches to ensuring compliance in an increased regulatory environment
• Anti-money laundering and combating terrorist financing - how will this impact smaller funds?
• Preparing to backtrack: Adapting to constant change in jurisdiction and the legislative landscape
• Keeping abreast of taxation and staying ahead of the game this tax season
• Dealing with IPEV Valuation Guidelines
• ESG EU, SDFR and Taxonomy regulation is now in force alongside UK’s adoption of TSCD, what does this mean for managers?

Lunch break and networking

Debate:
Motion: the concept of CFO role stretch is a generational issue, younger CFOs know how to harness tech to build efficiencies and scale and ease the workload burden…

Roundtables:

• Cyber security
• Tax and compliance
• Outsourcing
• FX

Country pursuits

Drinks reception

Dinner

Coffee and networking

Panel Discussion:
Talent acquisition and retention in the finance function

• Sourcing and retaining talent from outside of PE
• Less talk, more action: Championing diversity and inclusion within the finance sector
• Benchmarking remuneration within the PE industry and beyond
• How best to deal with administration of carry plans
• Boosting your employee engagement strategy to improve wellness in the workplace
• Control less, encourage more - creating higher performers and encouraging adult behaviours through improved staff treatment

Panel discussion:
Timing is everything: Matching fund financing solutions to your funds life cycle

• Fund finance fully matured or set to implode?
• Why are more and more providers entering the market and who are they?
• Navigating the various products available: From capital call facilities, subscription lines, NAV and hybrid facilities to preferred equity and secondaries for continuation vehicles

Coffee break and networking

Roundtables:

• Carry and waterfall structures
• Office culture: Connecting team members
• Retaining and rewarding talent

Fireside chat:
Designing an impactful ESG policy to last the life of your fund

• More than ticking the boxes: How to show investors that ESG is being incorporated into the investment process through policy implementation
• Future-proofing: Moving from pure ESG to holistic investing

Panel discussion:
ESG: the DNA of the company

• Minimizing risk, maximising returns: juggling the prioritisation of maximum returns with corporate and social responsibility
• ESG credentials: Getting to grips with guidelines in order to avoid greenwashing and bandwagoning
• Addressing the importance of having a lock-step, allowing for companies to have direct impact
• ESG and talent acquisition
• ESG and operational due diligence

Farewell lunch and close of conference