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Carlyle Group co-founder and CEO David Rubenstein participates in the Washington Ideas Forum, in Washington
- After Coronavirus disrupted some investors' international travel plans over the past month, thousands of private-equity execs will jet into Berlin, Germany, to strengthen their fundraising efforts and re-affirm investor relationships.
- It's all happening at SuperReturn International, the premiere attraction for some of the biggest PE shops to meet with investors and talk about raising money, economic trends, and their favorite topic of all: doing deals.
- Dorothy Kelso, global head of SuperReturn, told Business Insider that attendance at the annual private-equity convention will be as high as ever, with more than 3,000 professionals from all over the world, in asset classes ranging from credit to real estate.
- The four-day event is decked with panel discussions, keynote interviews and networking sessions, and some insiders gave us tips to navigate it all, like checking out Bikini Berlin, a dining complex that's a five-minute walk from the event.
- Business Insider will be on the ground to chronicle the highlights, but we went ahead in advance to take you inside our thought-process about the biggest themes to pay attention to this year, from a looming recession, to the expansion of private credit.
After Coronavirus disrupted some international travel plans for private-equity execs, they'll have a shot this week to strengthen their fundraising efforts.
Thousands of PE professionals are jetting into Berlin, Germany, for SuperReturn International, the premier attraction for some of the biggest PE shops to rub elbows with investors, talk about raising money and doing deals.
The event, held at the InterContinental Berlin, also comes decked with a four-day line-up of panel discussions, keynote interviews and networking meetings.
Dorothy Kelso, global head of SuperReturn, indicated that the Coronavirus scare hasn't affected the SuperReturn attendance levels, with more than 3,000 PE professionals expected to show up.
"This event gets bigger and better every year, and we expect this year to be the same," she said in an email.
Private equity fundraising sources told Business Insider that January and February have been marked by cancellations and delays in international business travel by execs with funds overseas.
The Coronavirus, a deadly disease that started in China but has reached other parts of Europe such as Italy and Germany, has kept some investors glued to their offices.
"Outside of Asia, it seems that people are asking themselves whether the upcoming trip is a 'need to do' or just a 'nice to do' endeavor," said Peter Martenson, a placement agent with Eaton Partners.
"But I think that travel is already starting to ramp back up and normalize somewhat as people settle."
Business Insider will be on the ground to chronicle SuperReturn's biggest moments and we took the opportunity to speak with a handful of executives who plan to be there as well.
One joked, "just bring a bottle of Purell." Another offered some practical advice, saying that if you want to get outside for some fresh air, Bikini Berlin, a dining complex, and KaDeWe, a large department store, are both great places to escape.
"I'm interested in understanding how LPs are looking at the world of alternatives and how, if at all, that's evolved," said Jon Korngold, the head of Blackstone's growth equity unit.
"Companies are staying private longer, and how does that inform the decisions around public versus private allocation?"
Hartley Rogers, chair of Hamilton Lane, stressed that it was important to map out in advance how you'd like to spend your time, given the fast-paced nature of the event, and the fact that so many people will be there.
"It's prudent to look at the sessions and the speakers and then determine whom you benefit the most from interacting with," said Rogers, who is speaking on two sessions, including a fireside chat with Leon Black, CEO of Apollo Global Management.
"You have to be strategic about these decisions because the main conference is only three days and that's not much time," he said. "Once you get there, there is an incredible array of energy and people."
On that note, we dug into the agenda and spoke with sources to explore what are expected to be some of the meatiest topics - and noteworthy speakers - to appear at SuperReturn.
Here's a quick rundown.