Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim, Founder and Chairman, Mo Ibrahim Foundation

• What will be private equity’s role in driving private sector-structural and socio-economic change in Africa?
• What risks does growing income disparity pose to the Africa’s long term growth prospects, and how are these risks being addressed?
• What impact is private equity having on entrepreneurship and innovation today? How can private equity engage to enhance the overall quality of human capital on the continent?
• What is the role of the consumer sector and how can investors best tap into the emerging consumer opportunity?

• Are returns on investment and development impact mutually exclusive?
• How do funds measure performance most effectively?
• How can investors best tap into Africa’s commercial potential and who are the most likely exit prospects today and tomorrow?
• How can private equity best prepare portfolio companies for an exit to optimise value?

• What are the benefits and challenges of a sector strategy in Africa?
• What impact does this approach have on investor returns and development/growth impact, and how does this compare to varied sector approach?
• What sectors merit the most compelling investment theses for investors and why? Agribusiness, Consumer, Infrastructure, etc.
• How do governmental and regulatory objectives play a role in determining sector vs. non-sector strategies
• What financing models are proving most effective for tapping investment in various sectors?

• What has changed in North Africa over the past couple of years, partly in reaction to the "Arab Spring"? What sectors are emerging as attractive investment opportunities within this new regional order?
• The Eurozone slowdown, along with revolutionary change throughout the region, makes this a historic opportunity for economic integration in the Maghreb. What opportunity set will emerge from the region as it looks inward for trade and investment? What primary challenges must still be overcome?
• In Egypt, increased political stability could pave the way for a revival in capital inflows. What are the country’s medium to long term economic prospects, and how can investors best position themselves to weather short-term volatility?

Moderator:

Dr. Florence Eid, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Arabia Monitor

Panellists:

Ahmed Badreldin, Senior Partner, Abraaj Capital

Ziad Oueslati, Founding Partner, AfricInvest-TunInvest Group

Karim Sadek, Managing Director, Citadel Capital S.A.E.

• There is often a lack of transparency at both the government and corporate entity level. How can firms overcome these obstacles?
• How should firms proceed when there is an absence of clear legal and regulatory frameworks?
• Is the Western approach to due diligence suitable or unsuitable for African markets?
• What do recent funding, investment and business trends reveal about Africa as a PE destination?

• While LPs increasingly recognise PE as a way to capture growth opportunities in Africa, investors continue to be slow to make commitments. What factors are contributing to this hesitation?
• How can GP’s tackle the principal bottlenecks to unlocking capital from international and domestic institutional investors such as concerns about risk and the quality of fund managers focused on Africa?
• Who are the next generation of LPs, and what will be necessary to attract them to Africa? Could placement agents and fund of funds be more additive in this process?
• What role will local institutional investors play in growing the domestic industry and accelerating structural change in Africa?