Programme
Session 1 - One single European entity: a dream, or reality for your company?
Date: 20 October 2011
Timing: From 15:30 to 18:00
Location: Brussels
Language: English
For many companies, past restructurings and acquisitions have resulted in highly complex operating and corporate structures. Whilst, for some, the multiplicity of legal entities can be justified, they create unnecessary costs for many others. They often entail high compliance costs, duplicated back-office functions and a high internal cost of doing business such as in inter-company transactions. They also impose a significant, non-value-added administrative burden.
Corporate simplification can make M&A more effective by streamlining processes and re-aligning legal structures to operating business models. In this context and in view of the trend of globalisation, many international groups are currently tending towards the "one single European legal entity" concept as an ultimate means of achieving their goal.
At this session, our experts will tell you why certain structures should be streamlined and how it should be done. We will share our experience on how to successfully attain a simplified structure from a legal, tax and operational angle. Besides the theory, we will also look into some real business cases.
Speakers:
- Nancy De Beule (Director - PwC)
- David Vermeersch (Senior Manager - PwC)
Session 2 - Raising money for your business: should you go for an IPO or some other form of external finance?
Date: 09 February 2012
Timing: From 15:30 to 18:00
Location: Brussels
Language: English
There are many options for businesses considering external financing. Though it may not work for everyone, many fast-growing private companies can do an initial public offering ('IPO') to raise the capital they need to accelerate growth and expansion. IPOs are also a popular exit route for private equity investors. But are they still the best choice in the current market?
Do you know the alternatives and how to evaluate the various options open to your business? What about bond offerings as opposed to conventional finance techniques?
In this session, we consider various finance options, both equity and debt, and the pitfalls of each of them. We update you on the most-recent developments in the IPO market and walk you through the key points to watch out for when seeking new finance for your business.Speakers:
- Peter D'hondt (Partner-PwC)
- Michael De Roover (Partner - PwC)
Session 3 - Transfer of ownership: Family businesses in the eyes of private equity companies and vice versa
The majority of family businesses sooner or later will change hands. Solving the succession issue has become increasingly important over the past years.
In this session, we aim to address the salient features inherent to the transfer of a family business.
We will have a testimonial from both a seller's and buyer's perspective on the process and what it meant for each of them.
Speakers:
- Benoît Graulich, Partner at Bencis Capital Partners
