Mergermarket Corporate Development Forum Europe 2023
The must-attend event for corporate development professionals in Europe!
The Langham, London
Registration and Breakfast
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Keynote: History restarted: need-to-know as geopolitics bites back
The period from the fall of the Berlin Wall through to that of Lehman Brothers was one of Western geopolitical stability and solid economic growth fuelled by globalisation (albeit not all gained from capital’s profits).
Monetary policy activism kept a punch bowl full through to 2020 and covid saw both monetary and fiscal policy actions. However, the fraying in political stability was evidenced by the election of Trump, Brexit, the increasing influence of the far right in France and resurgent Russian belligerence.
2022 saw the wheels come off: inflation, de- or re-globalisation, Russian imperialism, US use of trade policy to combat threats, Chinese manoeuvres and inflation causing havoc.
- Global geopolitics can seem a perennial storm of volatility. What trends can we hold on to that will last five or 10 years?
- How is the European Union evolving in line with these trends? In terms of trade and competition policy, R&D, ESG, emissions, defence?
- The UK has pulled away from the EU project, but geopolitical gravity is aligning Britain with the EU in many ways. What areas of alignment - and what of divergence - could we see develop in the coming five years?
- As an expert practitioner in the foreign affairs space, what kind of consultancy do you see best-in-class corporations avail themselves of? Are executives perceived as having influence over any of the above?
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Panel: M&A deal leaders – New solutions to common challenges, and how to shape business strategies amid signs of instability
This panel will evaluate what are the biggest challenges corporates are facing and where we are in the cycle to inform future impact on deal flow and value drivers for M&A in the current uncertain global economy but specifically the skittish European market.
- Deal processes complications – what are the risks to be assessed in the current environment?
- What are the current trends in deal structures and how do deal terms compare between different European regions and globally?
- How much pressure do corporates have to review their portfolios?
- What types of deals generate better shareholder returns at a time of rising funding costs and falling valuation.
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Fireside chat: The future of corporate development teams
This exclusive interview will discover what the future holds for corporate development and how to navigate through an M&A transaction.
- What will the corporate development landscape look like in 5 years?
- Corporate firms are also subject to disruption through technological innovation. Which new technologies have disrupted the industry?
- How is the role of ESG changing when it comes to deal success or failure and when has ESG played a factor in deals failing?
- Is the time right in the industry cycle to acquire or carve-out?
- Do regulatory issues come into play and does the geopolitical environment cause concern?
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Networking coffee break
Panel: Boards involvement in M&A
This session will examine how board members can impact an M&A deal before, during and after the transaction is complete. Speakers will also discuss what deals should boards get involved in?
- What is the true scope of the board’s role in corporate M&A and how do you modernise a board involvement in M&A?
- How do boards challenge value-creation potential?
- How can you best support a board across the entire deal life cycle?
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Fireside Chat: Competition cases within M&A
The competition rules can hinder M&A deals in surprising ways. Our panel will discuss the issues and challenges surrounding antitrust and competition laws and how to effectively manage them.
- How is competition risk allocated and what are the key risks that could delay or complicate a competition review process?
- What are the most successful merger control procedures?
- How do you identify competition issues early on and what can be done to resolve them instantly and what are the boundaries of talking to competitors under competition law?
- What are the issues surrounding multi-jurisdictional merger control?
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Panel: Post-merger integration - the importance of retaining employees and maintaining company culture
In this session the speakers will discuss driving strategic growth when building on acquisitions. They will discuss the global M&A market and initial tips on executing transaction with ease whilst retaining talent at all levels.
- How can you best assess the cultural fit during your diligence processes and how should integration experts think about talent engagement and retention in the midst of a merger?
- Highlight the importance of people management after a corporate transaction
- Quite often culture has been viewed as the intangible element left to address in the post-integration phase - What culture moments really matter in a deal and how can you make sure you embed these into your value creation plan at the pre-deal phase?
- How can large firms attract talent from Gen Y and Z?
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Networking lunch break
Panel: Cross-border M&A – strategies and challenges 2023
This panel will highlight how investors should be responding to the geopolitical tensions, more complex regulations and higher risks associated with cross-border deal making globally. The experts will look at both inbound and outbound challenges and opportunities.
- Which regions and sectors are dealmakers seeing the most cross-border activity?
- Are cross-border deals still being made fully virtually or more of a blended method?
- With political tensions rising across Europe, is now the time to be investing?
- Can we expect more inbound and outbound Asian deals?
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Fireside Chat: Tech innovations and cybersecurity advancements
In this session, experts will discuss the importance of technology in a company and how technology is being increasingly used to improve deal insight and workflow efficiency.
- What are the technology issues that all companies must be mindful of after completing an M&A transaction?
- How will new technologies such as bloc chain and AI will impact the M&A from a process and activity perspective ?
- Cybersecuirty risks in M&A
- How important is cybersecurity during an acquisition and how do you conduct cyber-risk analysis during your due diligence?
- How are companies using new technologies to shape M&A due diligence and how can technology drive innovation within M&A?
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Networking coffee break
Fireside Chat: Overview of European IPO and carve-out activity
IPO activity has slowed globally as volatility in markets has increased in-line with rising interest rates and macro-economic pressures. What it the future of the product, will we see a prolonged period of malaise in European IPOs or are there still some exciting potential deals, like the IPO of Porsche last year that cab buck even a bad market
- The importance of staying local when it comes to listing on capital market - is this still the case or are European exchanges losing their lustre?
- Can we take anything away from ARMs decision to pursue a US listing over one on the LSE? Has London's star fallen or are we just hitting a bump in the road?
- Which IPOs have been successful, and which have been disappointing?
- Why was Porsche so successful in such a bad IPO year.
- Are carveouts the right solution to the challenging market conditions and what are the current challenges or will companies refrain from separations?
- Have we seen the IPO investor base change and are we now seeing sovereign wealth funds start to stretch
their muscles a little more in Europe?
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Panel: Climate disruptors and the everlasting importance of ESG
This session will discuss how climate disruption means that ESG plays a key role in defining a company’s reputation and culture with M&A, as businesses strive to meet ESG expectations.
- What challenges are you facing in meeting carbon neutrality targets in line with the goals set in the Paris Agreement?
- How are sustainability strategies affecting M&A decisions and what is best practice for sustainability considerations versus growth strategies?
- Do you see the integration of ESG targets within organisations impacting the company’s culture?
- What are the business risks associated with neglecting an ESG strategy?
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"Dealmakers and Trailblazers" Women's Networking Reception
Join us for a networking reception that celebrates women in M&A and corporate development! Hosted by Mergermarket and CMS, this event is open to all delegates of the conference.
At "Dealmakers and Trailblazers" you'll have the opportunity to connect with other women in the industry face-to-face, exchange experiences and best practices, and learn about different sides of the business. It's a chance to make meaningful connections with other professionals in the same field.
Our very special guest speaker at the reception will be...Annabel Thomas, CEO and Founder of Mc'nean Distilery - UK’s first whisky distillery to be verified as net zero and record breaking auction product.
We believe that gender equity and inclusivity are important values, and we want to create a networking event that reflects that. That's why we're inviting everyone to join us, regardless of gender identity. Allies who support gender equality and inclusivity are welcome too!
So come join us for an exciting evening of networking, learning, and inspiration!
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Heading Mergermarket and Dealreporter editorial output across EMEA, leading a team of more than 50 reporters across both products.
Heading Mergermarket and Dealreporter editorial output across EMEA, leading a team of more than 50 reporters across both products.
Anand Menon is Director of the UK in a Changing Europe and Professor of European Politics and Foreign Affairs at King’s College London. He has written widely on many aspects of EU politics and policy and on UK-EU relations. He is a frequent contributor to the media on matters relating to British relations with the EU.
Heading Mergermarket and Dealreporter editorial output across EMEA, leading a team of more than 50 reporters across both products.
Louise Wallace is Head of the International CMS Corporate group, leading the team of over 1000 corporate lawyers globally, corporate lead for the Consumer Products sector and also has a very active Hotels & Leisure practice, being recognised as Band 1 for Hotel and Leisure M&A.
Louise was appointed as CMS Head of Corporate in January 2021 and she specialises in acting on some of the largest multi jurisdiction transactions and advisory work across the globe and is recognised in Chambers for M&A. Most of her transactions have an international element, including recent transactions for, and advice to, for Invesco, Logistics Capital Partners and Associated British Foods as well as for long standing client including Advance Publications, Conde Nast, Lone Star, Patron Capital, DTGO and Nestle.
Kirstie leads M&A and divestments for Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP), the world's largest independent Coca-Cola bottler, covering Western Europe, Australasia and parts of South-East Asia. CCEP is one of the leading consumer goods companies in the world, selling some the world’s most loved brands to over 600 million consumers.
CCEP has a successful record of growth via transformational acquisitions, having itself been created in 2016 via a tri-partite merger of billion-euro businesses (each of which having grown from the consolidation of individual regional bottling franchises). Kirstie led CCEP’s EUR 6.5 billion acquisition of Coca-Cola Amatil in 2021 and has been responsible for the portfolio rationalization programme which followed.
Prior to joining CCEP in 2019, Kirstie spent nearly 20 years working in Food & Beverage M&A for investment banks and boutiques, latterly Houlihan Lokey, and holds a maths degree from the London School of Economics.
Pablo is Global Head of M&A with Swissport International, the world's leading provider of airport ground handling and cargo handling services with more than 45,000 employees and operations at approx. 300 airports in 45 countries. Swissport International is pursuing a growth plan that includes an ambitious acquisition agenda in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Prior to joining Swissport earlier this year, Pablo was Global Head of M&A with global logistics company Kuehne+Nagel where he managed M&A transactions with a combined deal value of around $2.5 billion. Prior to Kuehne+Nagel, Pablo was an M&A advisor with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Switzerland and Australia. Pablo holds a Master of Arts in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Banking & Finance from the University of Zurich and has passed all CFA exams.
Philip is chief strategy & marketing officer at Sterling Technology, a premium provider of virtual data room solutions for M&A, capital markets, and real estate. He has more than 30 years' experience working in strategy, M&A, corporate development, and corporate finance leadership roles in management consulting, investment banking, public companies, and private equity backed firms. Philip is a non-executive adviser to startups, investment management and private equity firms. He has served as an honorary visiting fellow in finance, and as a member of the advisory board of the M&A Research Centre, at Cass Business School. He is a co-author of over a dozen published M&A research studies and papers, as well as a co-inventor and patent holder for computerised, networked secure collaboration technology. Philip graduated from the University of London with Masters degrees in computer science and finance.
Alasdair is a Partner in our Corporate Team at CMS London and Head of Equity Capital Markets. He specialises in UK and cross-border corporate finance, including public and private M&A, strategic investments and primary and secondary equity issues, as well as regularly advising on infrastructure consortia and corporate joint venture arrangements. He regularly advises quoted companies and financial intermediaries on the UK Listing Rules, Prospectus Regulation Rules, Disclosure and Transparency Rules, AIM Rulesthe Takeover Code and general company law. Alasdair has a particular focus on the Infrastructure and Technology sectors and regularly visits clients, investors and advisers in China and India.
"Livia Amidani Aliberti graduated in Economics and Commerce at LUISS (Rome, Italy) and holds a Master level Diploma from FT-Pearson (UK). She is registered with the Albo dei Dottori Commercialisti (Association of Chartered Accountants) of Rome and a member of the Scientific Committee of NedCommunity. She is a consultant in corporate governance and her specialties include Corporate Governance Assessment and Redesign, Strategic Evaluation of Boards, AIM Listings; she is also engaged in gender diversity research and consulting. She is the author of several publications on gender diversity and directors. Experience in the dualistic, monistic and traditional governance system, chair/member of board committees (risk, rem, nom, RPT). Balance work to interests of the company with appropriate Board contextualised behaviour – while sensitive to group dynamics and diversity issues. "
Leading Board adviser on over $100bn M&A deals and $20bn capital raisings. Creating stakeholder value by originating strategic opportunities for industry transformation & growth. Asian, European and American markets. Biotech, healthcare, technology, communications, industrials, chemicals, agriculture and financial services.
Elliot is a technology focused partner in the Transaction Team at CMS, with extensive experience in Venture Capital, fundraisings, private equity, joint ventures and mergers and acquisitions. He advises a wide range of clients ranging from start-ups to multinationals.
Sara has been with the General Electric Company for 20 years. In her current role, she is responsible for all corporate development and M&A activity across the GE portfolio outside of the US. Her broad international M&A experience spans both industrial businesses and financial services.
She started her career as a Financial Analyst in the Investment Banking division of Goldman Sachs in New York. Prior to joining GE, she was also a management consultant at McKinsey & Co.
Sara holds a B.A. in Economics with a Mathematics minor from Wellesley College and an M.B.A. from the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Caroline has over 10 years experience delivering growth through IBM acquisitions. She leads IBM Consulting’s post-close acquisition support globally, with a specific focus on improving the acquired employee experience and delivering efficient support to drive the business case results.
Jonathan Aiken is a Partner based in London. He joined BDA in 2007 and is responsible for the London office and strategy. Mr. Aiken’s oversight role in London includes a broad range of sectors including industrials, technology, and consumer.
He specialises in complex, cross-border transactions including corporate carveouts. His clients include EQT, Tata Group, Actis, LDC and Donaldson. He holds an MBA and a Masters in International Affairs from the George Washington University. He is fluent in English and French and proficient in Mandarin.
Jess Zhou is an experienced Director with a demonstrated track record of acquisitions and investments. Solid professional skills in cross boarder M&A, Private Equity, Fund Raising, Project Management, and Corporate Development.
Jess specializes in cross-border M&A transactions and has successfully completed many deals in various sectors in her career. Prior to her current position as Corporate Development and M&A Director at Boehringer Ingelheim, she worked as Business Development Director for global emerging markets at ConvaTec, focusing on acquiring medical device companies.
Before ConvaTec, she led a team in PwC specialized in fund-raising for TMT companies. Prior to PwC, she worked with UCF Group where she leads the acquisition of a leading insurance company. She also led third party advisors including investment bankers, big fours and law firms on due diligence and deal negotiations.
Prior to joining UCF, Jess worked at BDA Partners, a New York based investment banking firm focused on mid-market M&A. She focused on the consumer, retail and private equity sectors.
Kristin joined Swiss IT Security Group in 2019 and has since then executed various successful add-on acquisitions, as well as the secondary buyout of Swiss IT Security Group. She has an extensive track record in M&A, working in M&A advisory as well as Corporate M&A in Frankfurt, Munich and Zurich.
Kristin holds Degrees in Economics and Management from University of Reutlingen and Zeppelin University.”
Forward-looking, dividing his time between Europe and the US, Alberto works on bridging the world of startups and the world of established businesses.
Alberto Onetti is a seasoned serial entrepreneur with core competencies in corporate strategy and finance. Among the others, he founded Funambol, Inc., a mobile personal cloud company based in Silicon Valley with R&D and Operations in Europe.
Alberto is Full Professor of Entrepreneurship and Management at University of Insubria. In 2009 he was appointed as Chairman of the Californian Mind the Bridge, global organization that provides innovation advisory services working at the intersection between Startups and Corporates. Since 2014 Alberto has been selected by the European Commission to help drive the Startup Europe Partnership (SEP), the first integrated open innovation platform to support growth and sustainability of European companies. Thanks to its work at Mind the Bridge Alberto is today recognized as one of the thought leaders in open innovation and startup-corporate collaboration. Alberto is invited keynote and panelist at main Conference and Forums (among the others: LeWeb, 4Y4N, IBA European StartUp Conference, SME Assembly, Scaleup Summit, European Innovation Day, Merger Integration Management Forum, Net Futures, Global Entrepreneurship Congress, SVC2UK, Digital Action Day, European Makers Fair, …), guest columnist at Sifted, EconomyUp and Crunchbase (and more), beyond being very active on LinkedIn, Twitter (@aonetti), Instagram, Facebook and Telegram.
Tristan Nagler joined Aurelius in January 2014 to lead the London office and is responsible for sourcing and executing investments across the UK and Ireland. He began his career with KPMG, where he became a director in the London-based M&A team, and in 2010 joined Investec Growth & Acquisition Finance.
I am the senior ECM editor at Ion Analytics working on producing equity capital markets intelligence for Dealogic and Mergermarket.
Based in Paris, Emilio Zito is EDF Group Head of M&A, Investments and EDF Invest. He is also in charge of Investor Relations.
Emilio joined EDF in 2008 and since he originated, led and executed a wide range of greenfield and brownfield transactions across the energy chain and related infrastructure. He has also been holding Boards positions within several subsidiaries of the Group, mainly in the Renewables business.
Emilio started his career as an investment banker in London, covering natural resources, energy and power sectors. He joined EDF in 2008 as an M&A and Investment Manager and relocated to London in 2011 to take on the M&A and Investment responsibility of EDF Energy, the largest subsidiary of the Group. Between 2018 and 2020 he also held the position of Deputy Head of M&A for EDF Group, before being appointed EDF Group Head of M&A and Investor Relations. On March 1st, 2023, Emilio had his responsibilities widened to include the Group’s principal investments activity and EDF Invest.
Originally from Milan, Emilio holds a double MSc in General Management from Milan Bocconi University and HEC Paris. He also graduated from the University of California San Diego with a major in Corporate Finance.
Emilio is an Italian native speaker, and speaks fluent English and French.
Annabel is the CEO and Founder of Nc’nean Distillery on the west coast of Scotland. A former strategy consultant, she set out to create Nc’nean in 2013 with a mission to change the way the world thinks about whisky from Scotland. Innovation and creativity are at the heart of the company’s philosophy and their award winning, organic single malt whisky has been making waves since its launch in August 2020 (including a world record-breaking £41,000 bid for the first bottle). Nc’nean has an uncompromising focus on sustainability: in July 2021 Nc’nean became the UK’s first whisky distillery to be verified as net zero for scopes 1 & 2, all its products are certified organic and its bottle is 100% recycled glass. In January 2022 it announced it was certified a B Corp.