Program
Wednesday 2 September 2020
9:00am
Registration and networking
9:30am
Welcome
- Adrian Herbert – Managing Editor, Private Equity Media
- Rachel Slattery – Director, Slatterys
9:40am
State of the Australia and New Zealand market (Presentation)
Outline of the Australian and New Zealand private capital markets with focus on the growth capital space.
- Margaret Schlott – Investment Director, Cambridge Associates
10:00am
Running a growth fund – why it is different from venture or buyout (Presentation)
Outline of early (first year) experiences in developing a growth fund. Contrast with (primarily) buyout funds as well as venture funds. What should a growth investor look for in an investment and what should it offer in addition to cash?
- Justin Ryan – Managing Partner, Quadrant Private Equity
10:20am
Applying a US-developed business model to the local market (Fireside Chat)
What advantages has the Riverside model brought to Australia and what challenges has it faced?
- Nick Speer – Partner, The Riverside Company – interviewed by Matt Stubbs – Managing Director, Allier Capital
10:40am
Networking Morning Tea
11:15am
Can Growth Capital and Venture firms work together for mutual benefit?
It would seem to be natural for tech companies to progress from venture to growth funding as they develop. Are there opportunities to improve this process? Where and how should Growth Capital and VC firms work together?
- Alison Deans – Non Executive Director and Advisor
- Genevieve Gregor – Partner, Colinton Capital
- Elaine Stead – Committee Member, Australian Investment Council
11:45am
Why ESG considerations can make or break an investment
While many private capital investors now accept that environmental social and governance considerations should be included in due diligence on deals, some still see ESG as risk issues to be dealt with at the compliance level. In this discussion, we will look at reasons why ESG considerations are important for investment teams.
- Suzanne Tavill – Partner, StepStone Group – interviewed by Adrian Herbert – Private Equity Media
12:05pm
Sources of funding – getting the balance right between debt and equity (panel discussion)
Entrepreneurs need funding to convert ideas into viable businesses. Investors want security for their capital.
- Jason Georgatos – Managing Director, Partners for Growth
- Kelly Morton – Managing Director, Skye Capital
- Nicholas Sweeney – Director, Macquarie Mid Market
- Melissa Widner – Managing Director, NAB Ventures
- Moderator: Tom Matthews – Partner, Pemba Capital
12:45pm
Networking Lunch
1:30pm
Impact investing – the commercial lessons (keynote address)
LeapFrog Investments has directly improved the lives of disadvantaged people in developing economies in Africa and Asia while generating private equity level returns for its investors. This presentation explains the firm’s ‘profit with purpose’ concept and its lessons for all growth investors.
- James Burton – Senior Manager, Strategy, LeapFrog Investments
2:00pm
Intangible assets – recognising the real value in growth businesses
A discussion of how to value the real value in most modern businesses – Patents, technology, know-how and data.
- Francis Milner – Chief investment officer, EverEdge Capital
2:20pm
Scaling up a business – practicalities and pitfalls (panel discussion)
Even with adequate funding, scaling up a business can be a challenging process. This session takes an inside look at why some succeed and some fail.
- David Odgers – Executive Director, IFM Investors
- Dai Williams – Chief Growth Officer, Siteminder
- Barry Westlake – veteran entrepreneur and investor
- Moderator: Craig Griffin – Executive Director, Head of Marketing and Growth, Macquarie
3:00pm
Capital raising from the trenches! A case study (presentation)
A ‘no holds barred’ look at capital raising from an entrepreneur’s perspective.
- Will Davies – CEO and Co-Founder, Car Next Door
3:20pm
Networking Afternoon Tea
3:45pm
Scaling up a business without external funding (presentation)
In this presentation a successful entrepreneur puts the case for self-funding.
- Grant Petty – CEO and Founder, Blackmagic Design
4:10pm
Routes to Exit (discussion)
This session looks at the alternative routes to find a return on investment that may be considered by growth businesses, their investors and advisors.
- Lindley Edwards – Group CEO, AFG Venture Group
- Georgina Lalor – Executive Director, Macquarie
- Melissa Widner – Managing Director, NAB Ventures
- Moderator: Neil Bourne – Managing Principal, Sydney, Eaton Square
4:45pm
Closing remarks
5:00pm
Networking drinks
* This program is subject to change
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