• Opportunities dramatically expand despite negative media coverage
• Markets more mature and civilized but still difficult to operate in
• Competition is still low but sourcing deals is extremely difficult
• New generation of businessmen has arrived but finding right partners is never easy
• Whole industries and regions are still undiscovered jewels

• Is now the right time to consider Russia & CIS as part of your portfolio?
• Major risks and concerns faced by investors
• Key factors shaping the investment decision-making process
• What returns are expected in the next ten years?
• Insights into effective portfolio allocation to Russia & CIS

• Is the perception the same as the reality? Equity Volatility. Bond yield spreads
• The Russian Presidential election 2008: Crime and corruption. Regulation and corporate governance
• Russia 2020 – The emergence of a multi-polar world
• The establishment of institutional trust

• Increasing appetite for Russia and CIS among investors and the growing importance of careful assessment of their risk exposure
• Examining the levels of state involvement across a wide variety of markets
• The correlation between the state’s strategic interests and property rights
• The Yukos aftermath: current and future impact of political risk on private enterprise

• How dependent are Ukraine and Kazakhstan on Russia?
• What strategic role will these economies play if Russia’s capital markets default as a result of an oil crisis?
• Which sectors and industries are offering highest returns?

• Primary investor concerns:
  - to what extent is business dependent on politics in Russia?
  - do you need to worry about minority shareholders' rights?
  - how are market transparency and volatility affecting investments?
• Russia’s credit ratings: brief history and outlook
• What impact will decline in oil prices have on the region’s economy and creditworthiness?
• What needs to be done to resolve investor concerns?

The revolutionary, exciting, quick and non-pressurised way to meet fellow conference delegates and industry peers in a forty minute session. These brief meetings are the starting point for conversation and networking throughout the conference. This is where long lasting and fruitful relationships begin.

• Analysing market liquidity and volatility
• The latest changes in stock market regulations and corporate governance
• Russian blue chips: are they still a buy? What is the outlook?
• Risks and opportunities in the small and mid-cap space
• The tidal wave of Russian & CIS IPOs: are the latest pessimistic forecasts justified?

• Will corporate bonds continue to outperform in local and international debt markets?
• Key to unlocking value in the local bond markets
• Sectors and issuers with credit upside: top picks for 2007
• How real is liquidity in the market?
• What difficulties do investors face when buying Russian bonds?

• Russian oil and gas industry overview
• Financing of the independent oil and gas companies. What type of deals are available, volumes, returns, case-studies
• Support for investee companies
• Partnership with a local player

• Russian oil money: the main driver of real estate investments
• Where and how to find suitable investment opportunities?
• Examining typical risks, returns and major market segments
• How do returns compare with those in the more mature Western markets?
• Exploring the regions: an oasis of new opportunities?

• The impact of recent legislative changes on the investment scope of Russian REITs
• Tax treatment and levels of transparency
• Residential vs. commercial real estate: where do the future opportunities lie?
• The extent of financial input from Russian and foreign institutional investors

• Structured products as a perfect solution to reducing high risks while benefiting from the high-yield markets
• Financial solutions linked to Russian equities via derivative-type transactions and synthetic convertible instruments
• Finding superior results tracked to selected Russian securities
• Hedging investments in Russian equities - available products
• Major legal, taxation and accounting considerations that need to be tackled

• State of the market - is now the right time to be investing in this sector?
• Accessing investment opportunities and maximising value
• The booming PPP industry in Russia: public-private partnerships in the transport sector
• Other potential PPP areas that will see tremendous growth and opportunity in the next few years
  

• Latest changes and key drivers of growth: 
  - structural reforms and economic stability
  - corporate governance
  - higher returns vis a vis public markets
  - inflows of capital
• Two years after Carlyle’s exit: what lessons can Western investors learn from this experience?
• Most prominent deals in 2006/7
• How the latest government initiatives are further boosting the thriving industry

• The sectors in investor focus: where are the growth areas and how to reach them?
• Private equity vs. hedge funds: are the boundaries getting blurred?
• How do current and projected returns compare with those in other emerging markets and developed countries?
• What are the best ways to access Russian private equity?

• Major players and the drivers of outstanding returns
• What are the market volumes and potential?
• Which sectors are on fund managers’ radar – what returns can be expected?
• What are the barriers and market limitations to hedging on the Russian market?
• Offshore solutions: how are they adding value?
• Financial and tax regulations affecting investments and funds’ operations

• Long only: does it pay off?
• Long/short equity investing: what are the winning criteria?
• Event driven and special situations: risks and opportunities
• Market neutral: how easily can it be implemented?

Private equity has emerged as a major component of the alternative investment universe. The private equity industry's rapid growth in recent years has meant that is has reached the stage where it is now broadly accepted as an established asset class for the purposes of investment portfolio allocations.

This must-attend master class is designed for all investors interested in making room for Russian & CIS private equity in their investment portfolios.

• The size of the private equity allocation
• Number of private equity funds to commit to
• Ways of achieving diversification
• How to implement the strategy
• How to plan for the volatility of cash flows

• The principal means of private equity investment
• Private equity fund structures
• Legal and tax aspects

• The importance of manager selection
• What to look for in a potential fund investment
  - Investment strategy and market opportunity
  - Track record
  - Investment team
  - The set of key skills