George A. Papandreou speaks on Greece at HVCA 17th Annual Conference in Budapest
Top Hungary, CEE investors and business leaders convene at key forum
May 28, 2015 – The Hungarian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (HVCA) is pleased to announce that George A. Papandreou (former Prime Minister of Greece, 2009-11) will be the keynote speaker at its 2015 conference on Private Equity, Venture Capital and Corporate Finance in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), entitled “Certainty in Uncertain Times,” which will take place on June 11 at the Hotel Boscolo New York Palace, Budapest. Mr. Papandreou, who was Prime Minister of Greece during one of its most challenging economic chapters, will share his unique insights into the lessons that the Greek experience has for the whole CEE region and the EU.
The HVCA’s annual conference is the premier event for leaders from business, political, and legal communities to interact and discuss the state of private equity (PE), venture capital (VC) and corporate finance in CEE/SEE. Other important topics on the agenda include the outlook for privatization in Slovenia, currently a highly attractive target for dealmakers, resurgent prospects for the Budapest Stock Exchange and other regional bourses as IPO venues, and the fortunes of the private equity market in Hungary and CEE/SEE, which is now providing fresh funding sources and value realization for the region’s entrepreneurs and business leaders, and attracting some of private equity’s biggest names, after a year that, according to the European Venture Capital Association, saw European PE investment rise 14% to €41.5 billion, divestments reach a record European high of €37.8 billion, and over 5,500 European companies get PE investment – 80% of them SMEs.
„We are glad to welcome Mr. Papandreou for his top-down macro view of the fast-changing regional environment and the economic prospects for the whole of Europe,” Levente Zsembery, HVCA Chairman and CEO of X-Ventures, said. „His personal experience of the sovereign debt crisis and the difficulties in Greece give him an unrivalled perspective. Such geopolitical and macroeconomic insights are essential for investors in all asset classes – traditional and alternative – to understand the underlying factors behind near-future performance and current investment conditions.”
„Private equity in CEE is returning money to investors and producing some notable transactions,” added Edward Keller, Partner at Dentons, a key supporter of the Conference. „We are seeing renewed interest, not only in Hungary but also in the region generally, from some of the largest international private equity firms, and expect to see new deal flow off the top of this.
There are still opportunities to book delegate places at the HVCA 17th Annual Conference, with details and registration online at: http://www.hvca.hu/conference/.
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For further information and press opportunities, please contact: Capital Communications, Szilvia Hegyi, Phone: +36 1 266 0199. Fax: 36 1 318 0613. E-mail: Hegyisz@capital.hu.
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About the Hungarian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (HVCA)
The Hungarian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (HVCA) represents the interests of the private equity and venture capital industry in Hungary by supporting its members and promoting adherence to the highest possible professional and ethical standards. The HVCA was established in 1991. Currently, the HVCA is known as one of the most dynamic and active professional organisations in the CEE region. The HVCA represents virtually every major player of the private equity and venture capital industry in Hungary and is dedicated to promoting the private equity and venture capital industry for the benefit of funds, entrepreneurs, private equity professionals and the economy as a whole.