Agenda

Every Private Equity firm pays a "Dead Deal Tax", the thousands of hours and hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on diligence for 
companies that were never going to close. In a market where speed is a hedge against interest rate volatility and compressed timelines, the ability to find the "smoking gun" in 48 hours, rather than three weeks, is a massive competitive moat.
This roundtable moves past the AI hype to discuss the practicalities of "Industrialised Screening." We will explore how leading GPs are using standardized, automated workflows to ingest unstructured data (VDRs, legal hair, customer contracts) on Day 1 to surface dealbreakers instantly. The goal: moving senior judgement to the top of the funnel and freeing up deal teams to focus only on the high-conviction opportunities that actually drive alpha.

• Natural capital is gaining institutional traction across forestry, agriculture and biodiversity. How are investors balancing 
  impact, regulation and long-term, scalable returns?
• Music is emerging as a distinct asset class through IP ownership and streaming revenues, what drives sustainable value 
  creation in an increasingly competitive market?
• Sports assets are attracting private capital across teams, leagues and infrastructure. How do investors underwrite 
  performance, media rights and downside risk?
• Beyond these sectors, which other emerging markets will define the next wave of private markets growth?

• Rising interest rates, tighter financing conditions, and intense competition are reshaping the deal landscape; how are 
  managers adapting their strategies to maintain momentum?
• Valuation pressures are mounting but what adjustments are GPs making to underwriting assumptions to align with LP return 
  expectations in a more cautious market?
• Certain sectors continue to outperform. Where are the most compelling opportunities, and how is operational value 
  creation becoming the key differentiator in winning deals?
• With uncertainty still clouding the macro environment, how are GPs and LPs balancing prudence with the need to deploy 
  capital and capture upside in 2026?

• Value levers: From Low-hanging Fruit to Foundational Enablers
• Case study – Neil Weller, CISO at OCS (a CD&R Portfolio Company)
• Systems and processes that constitute operational alpha
• Sources of value – those in the spotlight and those behind the scenes
• Cybersecurity as a key value lever – hidden savings and exit readiness

• The shift from closed-end to evergreen models is redefining how capital is raised and deployed - how far can innovation go before it challenges traditional fund mechanics?
• Hybrid and continuation vehicles are reshaping liquidity and flexibility - are they a temporary solution or the new long-term model for private markets?
• New structures are influencing everything from fundraising timelines to investor access. What’s proving most effective in aligning GP and LP interests?
• As LP demands evolve, which models truly deliver on transparency, liquidity, and performance, and what does this mean for the future of fund design?

Explores how managers are deploying fund financing and NAV facilities to enhance liquidity and flexibility. Assessing the benefits and risks for both GPs and LPs, the impact on fund lifecycles and valuations, and the future of liquidity management amid higher rates and volatility.

• From proprietary deals to raising capital whilst competing effectively in auctions
• LP opportunities in deal-by-deal structures and syndicated deals
• Aligning needs of family offices and institutional LPs

• As macroeconomic conditions evolve, new strategies are redefining how private capital is deployed; which approaches are gaining traction in the current environment?
• From secondary and continuation funds to private credit, infrastructure, and thematic investing, where are investors seeing the most compelling opportunities?
• Regional dynamics are shifting rapidly, how are strategies in markets like the Middle East, Asia, and Southern Europe shaping global allocation trends?
• With innovation driving new approaches to returns, are these strategies a sign of long-term structural change or short-term responses to market dislocation?

A. Private Credit Strategies: From Specialty Finance to Traditional Lending

• Private credit continues to evolve, where are managers finding the strongest opportunities today: direct lending, special situations, distressed assets, or niche areas like asset-backed finance?
• Market dislocation and elevated interest rates are reshaping deal flow and pricing, how are GPs adjusting their underwriting and risk management strategies in response?
• Complex structures bring attractive yields but greater scrutiny, are investors truly comfortable with the current risk/return profile across private credit segments?
• LP appetite remains robust, but preferences are shifting; where are allocations moving, and which strategies are emerging as the preferred vehicles for institutional investors?

Speakers:

• Paolo Marrone, Executive Director – Private Debt, Tikehau Capital
• Rafael Calvo, Managing Director, Head of Private Credit Portfolio Management (Europe), Clearlake Credit

B. Value Creation 2.0: AI, Talent & Risk Management in Action

• AI and digital transformation are reshaping portfolio performance; how are GPs using data-driven tools to identify opportunities and accelerate value creation?
• Talent remains the ultimate differentiator, what impact are leadership upgrades, cultural alignment, and incentive design having on portfolio growth and resilience?
• As volatility persists, risk management has evolved from a defensive measure to a core driver of value. How are firms embedding it into decision-making and operations?
• With AI, human capital, and strategic discipline converging, which operational playbooks will define the next generation of 
  private market value creation?

Speaker:
• Matt Baird, Managing Director, Omers Private Equity Europe
• Miles Rowland, Head of Data, Analytics and AI - Value Creation, Searchlight Capital Partners

C. Infrastructure & Real Assets: Convergence and Opportunity

• Investors are rethinking their approach to infrastructure and real assets amid evolving economic conditions, explore the themes that are driving allocation decisions today.
• Core, core-plus, and value-add strategies each offer different risk and return profiles, which approaches are striking the right balance in a higher-rate environment?
• Regulation, sustainability goals, and capital intensity are reshaping investment frameworks, how are managers adapting their models to stay competitive and compliant?
• From energy transition and renewables to transport, logistics, and digital infrastructure, where are the most compelling 
  opportunities emerging for long-term investors?

Speakers:
• Adelaide Morphett, Associate Director, Sustainability Specialist, IFM Investor

D. Unlocking Value Through GP Stakes: Strategic Capital, Alignment and Growth

This session explores the evolving GP stakes market in Europe, examining how minority investments can drive long-term value creation. Discussing strategic alignment, governance considerations, capital deployment, and how GP stakes partnerships are reshaping growth, succession planning, and platform scalability across private equity firms.

Speakers:
• Catherine Haumesser, Partner, Armen
• Cara Griffiths, Managing Director, Blue Owl

E. AI at Fund Level - Efficiencies & Data Management

• AI is reshaping fund formation and operations. Where are GPs finding the greatest efficiencies, from investor reporting to compliance workflows?
• As automation transforms data management, how can funds ensure accuracy, consistency, and scalability without losing human oversight?
• Integrating AI tools with existing fund administration systems raises new challenges around data quality, interoperability, and regulatory compliance, how are managers navigating these risks?
• With LPs demanding deeper transparency and real-time insights, how can GPs use AI to enhance investor communication, 
  streamline reporting, and strengthen trust?

Speakers:
• Skander Kamoun, Lead Data Scientist – Private Equity, Ardian
• Borja Fernandez Tamayo, Private Equity Vice President, Unigestion

•  How are managers using AI to source opportunities faster, strengthen due diligence, and improve decisionmaking in competitive deal processes?
• What AI-driven value creation strategies—pricing, forecasting, efficiency gains—are delivering measurable 
  impact across portfolio companies?
• How are firms overcoming data quality, integration, and governance challenges while meeting evolving regulatory 
  expectations?
• As LPs demand clearer value-creation narratives, how can AI improve transparency, communication, and trust?

Exploring the growing demand for co-investments and what institutional investors expect from them. Assessing how GPs balance access, speed, and alignment, reviews structuring and governance considerations, and assesses how co-investments are being deployed strategically to enhance exposure, manage fees, and mitigate risk in today’s market.

Explore continuation vehicles from a fund formation perspective. The discussion will cover structuring options, LP consent and 
alignment, regulatory considerations, governance, pricing dynamics, and how managers are using continuation funds as a strategic tool within modern fundraising and capital solutions.

Allocators are recalibrating their approach to private markets amid shifting macro conditions and regulatory pressures. 
Diversification, liquidity, and risk management remain central, but expectations around governance, reporting, and communication are rising. With private equity, credit, and other strategies evolving, understanding allocator priorities is key to anticipating where capital will flow next.

Following the Private Equity Wire® European Summit, join us for an evening of celebration and networking!