Benelux Private Equity Breakfast 2022

Event Program

08:00 – 08:20 Registration, hot & cold drinks and snacks
08:20 – 08:30 Welcome address by Malte Bruhns, Partner and Co-Head of the CMS Corporate/M&A Group
08:30 – 10:00 Panel Discussion

Moderators:
Mark Ziekman – Partner, Corporate/M&A, CMS Amsterdam
Poul Pedersen – Executive Chairman, Pedersen & Partners

Panellists:
Joost Heeremans – Partner, Rivean Capital
Erwin de Jong – Partner, Dutch Mezzanine Fund
Peter van Leersum – Partner, H2 Equity Partners
Jeroen Lenssen – Senior Director, Riverside
Taco Rietveld – Partner, RB Family Capital
Yvonne Rooijakkers – Head of Fund & Co-investments, Rabo Investments

Panel Discussion Topics:

• Recent developments and trends in M&A in the Netherlands and the Benelux region – including deal-flow, valuations, fund raising, availability of credit for leveraged financing, exit strategies, co-investments;
• High opportunity sectors and market segments – Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, eCommerce, FinTech, Life Sciences, Environmental Social and Governance (ESG), EdTech; 
• Value creation – portfolio management & asset class strategies, turnaround and change management, succession planning, talent retention, disconnect between valuations and company performance;
• What is the current valuation perspective (including equity and debt components) and is increasing regulation inhibiting deal-making activity and/or posing new challenges?
• Majority vs. minority stakes held by PE funds – comments on pros and cons and how this affects your strategy;
• Influence of external factors and regulations – climate change and sustainability, digital transformation, high inflation and rising interest rates, weakness of the euro, rising global energy & food prices and global supply chain bottlenecks, geopolitical tensions as a result of Ukraine invasion;
• Fund raising environment – who are the main sources of inbound capital: institutional investors, family offices, corporate ventures, sovereign wealth funds, multilaterals, funds of funds;
• Outbound investment destinations – what geographies have the highest potential for Dutch PE firms and their portfolio companies (Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa, Middle East, Americas?).