The event started off with key note speeches from Karl Sevelda, RZB member of the Board and Rainer Langel, Managing Director of Lazard Germany and short speeches by Martin Schwedler and Peter Koehler. It was followed by a series of panels focusing on topics such as financing, distressed deals, general private equity as well as macroeconomic outlook.

Gerhard Grund, Martin Schwedler, Wolfgang Putschek, Peter Köhler and Stefan Wala moderated panels. Heinz Sernetz wrapped up the event in his closing remarks. We finished the evening with cocktails and a dinner at RZB Sky Lounge.

The event was co-sponsored and supported by Allen & Overy and CMS – two leading law firms in Austria and Central and Eastern Europe.

In total, over 100 attendees participated in the event. Many key Private Equity funds in the region were present, including large cap players as well as regional houses and Austrian private equity funds. A senior representative from the Vienna Stock Exchange and the CEO of Prague Stock Exchange as well as a number of leading regional corporates were actively participating in the event.

RIAG’s Financial Sponsors team is a leading private equity advisory group in Austria and Central Eastern Europe. The focus is to advise PE funds on the acquisition or divestment of portfolio companies as well as work with corporates seeking private equity as part of their capital structure. Transactions typically include succession situations, management or leverage buy-outs as well as distressed / liquidity situations.