Private Equity Conference

24th ANNUAL CHICAGO BOOTH PRIVATE EQUITY CONFERENCE

Pietro Veronesi, Deputy Dean for Faculty and Sherman and Vivian Chao Distinguished Service Professor of Finance, Chicago Booth

Fund Strategy & Differentiation (Sponsored by Willkie Farr & Gallagher)
- Join industry leaders as they delve into the strategies private equity firms use to stand out in a competitive market. This panel will explore key topics such as fund differentiation, investment thesis development, proprietary deal sourcing, and the balance between broad and niche investment approaches.
Evaluating Opportunities & Executing Investments (Sponsored by Ropes & Gray)
- This panel will focus on the critical processes behind identifying, evaluating, and executing successful private equity investments. Experts will share insights on building a proprietary deal pipeline, refining investment theses, conducting thorough due diligence, and structuring deals with optimal leverage and capital strategies.

Private Capital: The Complete Guide to Private Markets Investing with Stefan Hepp, MBA ’90, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship

Private Capital: Alternatives to Buyout (Sponsored by Freshfields)
- This panel will explore the diverse range of private capital options beyond traditional equity investments. Industry experts will discuss opportunities in private credit, distressed investing, special situations, and secondaries, while addressing the impact of the current interest rate environment and innovative capital solutions.
PE Operations & Asset Ownership (Sponsored by McDermott Will & Emery)
- This panel will examine how private equity firms maximize value during the ownership period of their portfolio companies. Topics will include optimizing operations, value creation strategies, working with lenders, talent management, governance, and executing add-on acquisitions.

Current Topics in Private Equity (Sponsored by Kirkland & Ellis)
- This panel will address the most pressing topics shaping the private equity landscape today. Discussion points will include the current deal environment, macroeconomic climate, recent and forthcoming regulatory and geopolitical changes, fundraising trends, and evolving recruitment strategies.
Sale Process Preparation & Asset Exit (Sponsored by Latham & Watkins)
- This panel will focus on best practices for successfully exiting private equity investments. Experts will cover key topics such as timing, preparing assets for sale, building a targeted buyer universe, and strategies for maximizing exit valuations for both performing and underperforming assets.