Achim Pütz studied law at the Rhenish Friedrich Wilhelm University of Bonn.
From 2003 to 2010, he led the German Financial Services Practice Group at SJ Berwin LLP as a partner and from 2010 to April 2019 he worked in the same function and as Managing Partner at the Frankfurt office for the American law firm Dechert LLP.
Achim Pütz is the founder and chairman of Bundesverband Alternative Investments e.V. and was a council member of the Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA) for many years. He is the author of numerous articles for investment and insurance regulatory publications and a sought-after speaker at industry events.
Achim Pütz has been a partner at Luther since May 2019.
Vorstandsvorsitzender @ BAI e.V. | Partner @ Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft
9:10 am - 9:55 am
Keynote: Where Will the “Autumn of Reforms” Lead the German Economy? (GER)
Meridian
The global economy is dominated by geopolitical developments, most recently by the Iran war. Reacting to this new situation with short-term measures makes little sense. Instead, European and German economic policy must position themselves strategically—on the one hand through new trade agreements and a strengthening of the EU single market, and on the other hand through improving competitiveness.
The member states themselves are responsible for the competitiveness of their economies, as only they are familiar with their own economic policy challenges. In Germany, the issue is structural reforms that improve the cost situation for companies. Labor costs, energy costs, the intensity of regulation, and the tax burden are too high. Reforms in these areas are progressing only slowly. Instead, the federal government is relying on higher debt without achieving the hoped-for growth effects.
It is therefore time for a change of direction in economic policy.
Speaker:
Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Lars FeldBio
Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Lars Feld
Lars P. Feld, born in 1966 in Saarbrücken, has held the Chair of Economic Policy and Regulatory Economics at the University of Freiburg since 2010 and is Director of the Walter Eucken Institute. After studying economics at Saarland University, he earned his doctorate at the University of St. Gallen in 1999 and completed his habilitation there in 2002. He subsequently held academic positions at the University of Marburg and Heidelberg University.
Since 2003, he has been a member of the Scientific Advisory Board at the German Federal Ministry of Finance. In 2007, he was appointed expert to the Commission on the Modernization of Federal–State Financial Relations and contributed in an advisory capacity to the development of Germany’s constitutional debt brake. In January 2020, he was appointed as an academic member of the Minimum Wage Commission.
From 2011 to 2021, he served as a member of the German Council of Economic Experts, acting as its Chair in his final year, and represented the Council on the Independent Advisory Board of the Stability Council from 2013 to 2021. From 2022 to 2024, Feld served as Commissioner to the Federal Minister of Finance for Overall Economic Development.
Inhaber des Lehrstuhls für Wirtschaftspolitik und Ordnungsökonomik / Direktor @ Universität Freiburg - Walter Eucken Institut
10:00 am - 10:30 am
Private Credit in Transition – Why a Portfolio Is Incomplete Without the Lower Middle Market
Mistral
How has the market environment in direct lending evolved?
Why do smaller, established companies in particular offer attractive returns?
How can risks be minimized when gaining access to this segment?
In recent years, investors have had very positive experiences with corporate direct lending. However, margin pressure and looser documentation in the core market have been increasing. By contrast, the lower mid-market is characterized by less competition. The lower middle market in particular provides access to companies with resilient cash flows, strong equity backing, and conservative credit structures.
This presentation illustrates how the direct lending landscape is being reshaped in response to changing market dynamics, why smaller, established companies represent an attractive portfolio addition, and why a broad, well-established platform is crucial not only for sourcing transactions but also for securing access to them.
Private Debt
Speaker:
Fabio BiasionBio
Fabio Biasion
Fabio Biasion ist seit 2022 Teil des Golding Private-Credit-Teams. Sein Verantwortungsbereich umfasst die Identifizierung, Analyse und Auswahl von Fondsinvestments sowie die Strukturierung und Umsetzung von Direct-Lending-Transaktionen. Darüber hinaus ist er in das laufende Portfoliomanagement eingebunden.
Fabio Biasion verfügt über mehr als acht Jahre relevante Berufserfahrung. Vor seinem Eintritt unterstützte er das Direct-Lending-Team von Ares Management in Frankfurt bei der Analyse, Strukturierung und Umsetzung von Direct-Lending-Investitionen in der DACH-, Benelux- und CEE-Region. Zuvor sammelte er unter anderem bei Jefferies und PwC fundierte Erfahrung im Bereich M&A.
Fabio Biasion hält einen B.S.B.A. mit Schwerpunkt International Business, einen Master of Finance der EBS Universität für Wirtschaft und Recht sowie einen MBA der University of Denver, Colorado.
Portfoliomanager @ Golding Capital Partners
Florian HoferBio
Florian Hofer
Florian Hofer is responsible at Golding Capital Partners for the identification, due diligence, and selection of private credit investments, as well as for portfolio management.
Prior to joining Golding in 2018, he was a member of the Credit team at EQT Partners in London (now Bridgepoint), where he was responsible for the selection and execution of new financings and opportunistic private credit transactions. Before that, he worked in the Leveraged Finance team at Jefferies in London, focusing on the identification, structuring, and financing of leveraged buyouts and owner-managed companies. He began his career in 2010 in the M&A team at Jefferies in Frankfurt.
Florian Hofer completed his degree in law and economics with a focus on finance at the University of Augsburg and holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) with distinction from Chicago-Kent College of Law.
Managing Director Investments – Private Credit @ Golding Capital Partners
10:00 am - 10:30 am
Opportunities in the European Infrastructure Debt
Orient
• The case for European infrastructure • Key investment themes for investors • Insights into current transactions and pipeline
Infrastructure
Speaker:
Bertrand LoubieresBio
Bertrand Loubieres
Bertrand is Head of Infrastructure Debt at BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Alts (BNPP AM Alts). He is responsible for the continued development of our infrastructure debt investment platform.
Before joining BNPP AM Alts in 2015 (formerly “AXA IM Alts”, which later became BNPP AM Alts following the acquisition of AXA IM by BNP PARIBAS in July 2025), Bertrand headed the origination, structuring, and placement of all infrastructure project and structured bond opportunities in EMEA and APAC at BNP PARIBAS. Prior to BNP PARIBAS, Bertrand worked in the securitisation team at Morgan Stanley and before that held a series of roles focused on infrastructure and structured finance.
Bertrand has 25 years of experience in Infrastructure, Energy, Commodity and Export finance. He obtained his MBA from ESSEC Business School in 1996.
Head of Infrastructure Debt @ BNPP AM Alts
10:00 am - 10:30 am
Differentiated Direct Co-Investments
Okzident
Superior risk/return profile of co-investment funds
Sourcing of direct co-investments outside the usual channels
“Double” due diligence requirements (at the asset and GP level)
Tactical exit options to optimize the risk and cash flow profile
Private Equity
Speaker:
Philipp ScheierBio
Philipp Scheier
Philipp Scheier, Partner Private Equity, is a member of the Private Equity Direct Investment team. He joined Unigestion in 2021. Philipp is responsible for sourcing, executing and supporting the value creation phase of direct investments in German-speaking countries. His transactions include investments in Dovida (formerly HomeInstead, Switzerland), Zeit für Brot (Germany), Tecvia (Germany), Academia (Germany), Certania (Germany) and Ortivity (Germany). Prior to joining Unigestion, Philipp worked in growth capital and small-cap private equity in Switzerland and Germany. Philipp holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland, and a Master's degree in Finance from London Business School, UK.
Partner Private Equity @ Unigestion S.A.
10:00 am - 10:30 am
Building a multi-asset portfolio for alternative investments (GER)
Kristall
Between inflation, regulation, and transformation, institutional investors face complex challenges.
In a dynamic market environment, strategies must be rethought, risks reassessed, and opportunities leveraged in a targeted way.
How can a resilient portfolio for alternative investments be built in such an environment?
Speaker:
Susanne SkujatBio
Susanne Skujat
Susanne Skujat is Senior Portfolio Manager Real Assets in the Alternatives division and is responsible for managing funds of funds and separate managed accounts for various institutional investor groups. She has more than 25 years of professional experience with a focus on real estate finance.
Senior Portfolio Manager Real Assets @ Helaba Invest Kapitalanlagegesellchaft mbH
10:35 am - 11:05 am
Sponsor vs. Non-Sponsor in today’s middle market direct lending: Implications on Risk, Returns, and Relationships
Mistral
Understanding the landscape: who are sponsors and non-sponsors?
Risk and return profiles: what drives performance?
Relationship-driven lending: building trust beyond private equity
Investor implications: diversification and resilience in portfolios
This presentation will examine the strategic differences between sponsor-backed and non-sponsor middle market lending, focusing on how these distinctions impact risk, return, and portfolio construction. Gain insight into underwriting approaches, covenant structures, and market trends shaping both segments.
Why It’s relevant for end investors:
Portfolio diversification: combining sponsor and non-sponsor exposure can reduce concentration risk and enhance resilience.
Yield opportunities: non-sponsor deals often command higher spreads, appealing in a high-rate environment.
Market positioning: with private equity dry powder at record levels and non-sponsor lending gaining traction, investors need clarity on where to allocate capital for optimal risk-adjusted returns.
Private Debt
Speaker:
Lee LandrumBio
Lee Landrum
Lee joined Manulife | Comvest Credit Partners (“MCCP”) in 2023 as a Partner of the Firm. He serves as a voting member of the investment committee for all strategies and leads the global fundraising team.
Prior to joining MCCP, Lee was a Managing Partner of Tennenbaum Capital Partners (TCP), where he led its global fundraising team and all investor activity. He joined BlackRock (the successor organization) upon the sale of TCP to BlackRock in 2018. Previously, he held senior investment positions at The Carlyle Group and Babson Capital Management (now Barings). Lee began his career in investment banking at First Union (now Wells Fargo).
Lee received an M.B.A. from Vanderbilt University and a B.A. from the University of Georgia and studied at Jesus College at Oxford.
Partner - Global Head of Investor Relations @ Manulife I Comvest Credit Partners
10:35 am - 11:05 am
Investing Where Digital Transformation Creates Value: Directly Benefiting from Innovation, Digitalization, and Sustainable Growth (GER)
Orient
Access to a $7 trillion growth market – benefit early from the AI-driven transformation of energy infrastructure.
Additional revenue streams through the intelligent combination of different energy technologies instead of relying on single assets.
Detlef is CEO of CEE Group and Managing Director of the AIFM. He is primarily responsible for the company’s strategic direction as well as for the Sales, HR, and Marketing & Communications functions. Detlef was involved in founding CEE Group in 2000 and has held overall responsibility for the group as CEO since 2004.
Before joining CEE Group, he worked in Asset Management at Vereins- und Westbank AG. Under his leadership, CEE Group has developed into one of Germany’s leading asset managers in the renewable energy sector. He has around 30 years of experience in asset management, structuring, and portfolio management of open-ended and closed-ended capital market products.
He holds a degree in business administration (Diplom-Kaufmann) and a qualification as a Financial Economist (ebs).
CEO @ CYCAP
10:35 am - 11:05 am
Continuation Investments: Hype or Market Disruption
Okzident
GP-led secondary transactions are transforming the private equity market, whose volume is expected to more than quadruple over the next ten years.
Growing investor demand for mature, lower-risk assets, along with the increasing use of these vehicles by GPs, is driving this growth.
This is fundamentally changing the acquisition and exit dynamics within the private equity segment.
Private Equity
Speaker:
Nils RodeBio
Nils Rode
Responsibilities at Schroders Capital: Nils Rode is Chief Investment Officer of Schroders Capital and a member of the Investment Committee. He also leads the Data Science and AI teams.
Background: Before joining Schroders in 2005, Nils Rode worked, among other roles, at McKinsey & Company.
Education: Nils Rode holds a Master’s degree from ESCP Europe, Paris, as well as a doctorate in economics from Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Germany.
Chief Investment Officer @ Schroders Capital
11:05 am - 11:35 am
Coffee break
11:35 am - 12:20 pm
Panel: Infrastructure in Germany
Meridian
Infrastructure
Moderator
Dr. Thorsten VolzBio
Dr. Thorsten Volz
Thorsten is a partner in our Düsseldorf office with a focus on the energy and infrastructure sector. He specializes in regulatory, corporate, and M&A law, with a strong emphasis on renewable energy projects, power plant developments, grid infrastructure, and complex joint ventures. He has more than 20 years of experience in the energy and infrastructure sector.
Thorsten’s goal is to support projects related to the energy transition toward lower-carbon power generation and sustainable district heating. He advises utilities—particularly German municipal utilities—renewable energy project developers, as well as financial institutions and funds.
Among other matters, he has been involved in the structuring of regional grid operators, the acquisition of municipal utilities, the financing of waste-to-energy plants, and major M&A transactions focused on grids, onshore wind, solar energy, and conventional power generation. In addition, he advises on project developments and mezzanine financings, with a focus on wind, solar, hydrogen, district heating, water supply, and waste management.
Partner @ Simmons & Simmons LLP
Panellisten:
Manfred AckermannBio
Manfred Ackermann
Manfred Ackermann serves in a dual role as Managing Director of Stadtwerke Gelsenkirchen and of Emscher Lippe Energie GmbH, a regional utility provider in the central Ruhr area. He has 30 years of experience in the energy industry, with a strong focus on finance, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate strategy.
After studying Business Administration at the University of Münster, Manfred Ackermann worked for many years at PwC and internationally within the Shell Group.
Geschäftsführer @ Emscher Lippe Energie GmbH
Dr. Bernhard GraeberBio
Dr. Bernhard Graeber
▪ More than 25 years of experience in the energy sector, renewable energy, and infrastructure ▪ Approximately EUR 4 billion in transaction and investment experience ▪ Extensive long-standing management experience
Geschäftsführer und Leiter Real Assets @ EB - Sustainable Investment Management GmbH
Michael HennBio
Michael Henn
Michael Henn is Global Head of Green Deal Infrastructure at Commerz Real AG and a Member of the Management Board of Commerz Real Fund Management S.à r.l., Luxembourg. He is responsible for transaction and acquisition activities, project development, as well as asset management across renewable energy and infrastructure investments.
Michael Henn brings extensive experience in the investment industry and has led specialized transaction and project development teams for many years. Prior to joining Commerz Real in 2024, he served, among other roles, as Head of Transactions and Chief Commercial Officer at Gerchgroup AG and as CEO of Immobel Germany GmbH.
Henn completed training as a bank clerk and holds a degree as Diplom-Betriebswirt (FH). He also studied sustainable real estate project development at the European Business School Oestrich-Winkel (EBS).
Global Head of Green Deal Infrastructure @ Commerz Real Investmentgesellschaft mbH
Thomas SeibelBio
Thomas Seibel
Thomas Seibel is CEO of re:cap global investors ag and an expert in investments in energy transition infrastructure. Previously, he headed international business divisions at RWE and was responsible for numerous infrastructure investments. Since 2014, he has led the internationally active investment advisor, which has been successfully structuring innovative investment concepts for sustainable energy and storage infrastructure for 15 years and exclusively advises institutional investors. In November 2025, re:cap launched the first pure-play European battery storage fund.
CEO @ re:cap global investors ag
11:35 am - 12:20 pm
Panel: Private Debt: Default Risks in the Current Macroeconomic Environment
Mistral
Market Environment in the European Context
Discussion and Assessment of Potential Risk Factors
Managing Potentially Higher Default Risks in Direct Lending: Diversification and Asset-Based Finance
Assessment Based on Current Data on Default Risks in Germany
Private Debt
Moderator
Dr. Markus GeigerBio
Dr. Markus Geiger
Dr. Markus Geiger has more than 20 years of professional experience and has been responsible for Private Debt at ODDO BHF Asset Management since late 2018. Previously, he held senior positions at Kartesia in Private Credit, at Borromin Capital in Private Equity, and worked as a management consultant at Strategy&. Markus earned his doctorate from the University of Cologne and holds a master’s degree from ESCP Europe.
Head of Private Debt @ ODDO BHF Asset Management
Panellisten:
Jens BauerBio
Jens Bauer
Mr. Bauer is a managing director and co-portfolio manager within Oaktree’s European Private Debt strategy. He joined Oaktree in 2025 from Permira Credit, where he served as Co-Head of the Direct Lending investment team and was a member of the investment committee. Prior to that, he worked on Citigroup’s Leveraged Finance team in London, having started his career in Citigroup’s Zurich office. Mr. Bauer holds a B.Sc. in business administration and management from the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt and an M.Sc. in international and corporate finance from Durham University. He is a native German speaker.
Co-Portfolio Manager, European Private Debt @ Oaktree Capital Management
Dr. Benjamin MohrBio
Dr. Benjamin Mohr
Dr. Benjamin Mohr is a Member of the Management Board of Creditreform Rating AG, where he is responsible for Business Development and Relationship Management, as well as for leading the ESG sustainability division. Prior to this, Dr. Mohr worked at American Express and held various positions within the Creditreform Group, most recently serving as Chief Economist at Creditreform Rating.
He holds a degree in economics (Diplom-Volkswirt) from the University of Frankfurt and earned his doctorate in economics from the FernUniversität in Hagen, where he also worked as a research associate. Dr. Mohr has published several research articles on various economic topics and is the author of a book on institutional arrangements and regulatory frameworks for safeguarding financial stability.
Mitglied der Geschäftsleitung @ Creditreform Rating
Christopher SchubertBio
Christopher Schubert
Chris Schubert is a Senior Vice President and portfolio manager in the Alternative Credit division and is based in the London office. He focuses on corporate opportunities in the distressed credit and capital solutions sectors. Before joining PIMCO, he served as an Executive Director on Alcentra’s European Special Situations team. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Goethe University Frankfurt.
Senior Vice President und Portfoliomanager @ PIMCO
12:25 pm - 12:55 pm
European High Growth Companies – Does Europe have the power to innovate?
Mistral
State of the market
Innovative companies in Europe (e.g. AI)
How to help growth companies in their growth journey
Identifying the right innovation and successfull company of the future
This session explores whether Europe has the power to innovate by examining high-growth companies across the continent. Focusing on venture capital and venture debt, it highlights Europe’s vibrant startup ecosystem—home to around 33% of global startups—while addressing the key challenge of scaling due to limited access to growth capital. The discussion will showcase how growth funds, including the role of a client (to be determined) help bridge this financing gap. From the perspective of a German investor, the session offers insights into Europe’s startup landscape, innovation potential, and investment opportunities. For institutional investors, the session explains why European growth capital offers attractive diversification, long-term return potential, and access to innovation-driven companies at an earlier stage of value creation.
Private Debt
Moderator
Rizwan KhanBio
Rizwan Khan
Rizwan is an experienced speaker and has 12 years of experience in asset management, with a fast-moving and successful career. He has been a Private Credit product specialist since 2022.
Currently Senior Investment Manager in the Investment Management team of KfW Capital with a strong focus on the due diligence of venture capital and venture debt funds.
Over 15 years of experience in advising, financing and co-investing in small- and medium-sized companies. Extensive knowledge in mergers & acquisitions as well as complex financing structures (incl. venture debt for start-ups) through numerous transactions and different positions at NIBC and DHB.
Master’s degree in Management, Corporate Finance and Business Strategy from ESCP Europe (Paris, London, Berlin). Fluent in German, English and French.
Senior Investment Manager @ KfW Capital
Mårten VadingBio
Mårten Vading
Mårten Vading is a Co-Founding Partner of Kreos Capital (venture and growth debt, focusing on Technology and Healthcare) that was acquired by BlackRock in 2023. He is responsible for originating, assessing, and managing transactions with a particular focus on the Nordics and the DACH region. He is also co-responsible for general management and execution of Kreos’s / BlackRock's venture and growth lending strategy in Europe and Israel. Prior to Kreos, Mårten has held a variety of roles including time at UBS (UBS Warburg) and EY (Ernst & Young International) in the Nordic region. Mårten holds an MSc from Stockholm School of Economics and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with a dual major in finance and financial control & planning.
Managing Director @ BlackRock
12:25 pm - 12:55 pm
Success Factors for BESS Investments in Europe: From Market Potential to Payback (ENG)
Orient
Which European markets currently offer the most attractive opportunities for BESS projects?
How reliable are revenue streams for BESS projects, and what challenges exist regarding market risks?
What exit strategies are available, and what role do recycling and second-life usage play? Market sizing & storage duration – what is the path to fully bridge renewable energy intermittency?
Stand-alone vs. co-location – which business models for two different asset profiles?
European markets present compelling opportunities for Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects, supported by diverse regulatory frameworks and incentive schemes. At the same time, challenges persist, including supply chain risks, uncertain revenue models, and lenders’ assessment of bankability. Success hinges on robust income structures, well-defined exit strategies, and proactive consideration of recycling and second-life applications.
Infrastructure
Speaker:
Dr. Mathias BimbergBio
Dr. Mathias Bimberg
Joined Prime Capital in 2015 › Since 2015, Dr. Bimberg has been responsible for developing the funds’ investment strategy and overseeing origination, the selection of new investments and divestments. › Over the past years, he has invested in more than 6 GW through equity and mezzanine capital across the Nordics, Germany, France, Spain, the UK, and Italy. › Currently leading Prime Capital AG as one of Europe’s early movers in Battery Energy Storage Systems, with more than 4 GWh under development.
Past Experience › Ernst & Young GmbH WPG Dr. Bimberg spent four years as a Manager in the Transaction Services division, including a four-month secondment in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. › Equita Management GmbH Dr. Bimberg spent one year as an Investment Associate in the Private Equity team, supporting both buy-side and sell-side acquisitions. › Lincoln International AG Dr. Bimberg spent five years as a Senior Associate in the M&A team, during which he completed a six-month secondment in Chicago, USA.
Education › PhD in Corporate Finance at Eberhard-Karls-University, Tübingen, Germany. › German Diploma in Business Administration from Eberhard-Karls-University, Tübingen, Germany.
Head of Infrastructure @ Prime Capital
Gautier de MontalembertBio
Gautier de Montalembert
Joined the European Investment Fund in 2023 › Gautier is part of the European Investment Fund (EIF) infrastructure investment team, which he joined in 2023. He focuses on energy transition funds and co-investments that support the EU’s ambition to decarbonise the European energy system. In this role, Gautier serves on multiple investors’ advisory boards. › EIF’s energy infrastructure strategy prioritises investments with strong additionality, exclusively those with a greenfield focus aimed at delivering new production capacity and enhancing grid management capabilities. › Before joining EIF, Gautier spent five years in Deloitte Luxembourg’s strategy advisory team, where he advised alternative asset managers on target operating model optimization and product strategies. He began his career at Access Capital Partners, a private equity and infrastructure fund-of-funds platform in France, working within the valuation and legal team.
Investment Manager, Climate and Infrastructure Funds @ European Investment Fund (EIF)
12:25 pm - 12:55 pm
Aerospace & Defense in Europe: a moment of truth
Okzident
Unilateralism is back. And it is here to stay, because it is driven by long-term trends.
In response, Europe is increasing its defense spending and faces a crucial turning point and needs to ramp-up “Made in EU” solutions.
This development presents both challenges and opportunities for investors, especially in key sovereign industries.
During his keynote Fabien Roauldes will analyse the impact of this transformation and the resulting investment opportunities.
Private Equity
Speaker:
Fabien RoualdesBio
Fabien Roualdes
Fabien Roualdes joined Tikehau Capital in 2022. He currently serves as Co-Head of Tikehau Capital’s Private Equity Aerospace & Defence Strategy.
Previously, Fabien Roualdes was Director at AlixPartners in Paris. From 2017 to 2020, he was Managing Director of Satys.
From 2007 to 2016, Fabien held several management positions in Operations and Programme Management within Safran, both in France and in the United States.
Managing Director, Co-Head of Aerospace & Defense @ Tikehau Capital
12:55 pm - 2:00 pm
Lunch Break on level 4
2:00 pm - 2:45 pm
When investing becomes a lifetime passion - Innovation Next Generation Alternatives (GER)
Meridian
Origin of Wealth: Partners Group – Built differently
Set up of the family office: PG3 – Innovating Next Generation Alternatives
Shaping the future: Blue Earth – capital with impact
Speaker:
Urs WietlisbachBio
Urs Wietlisbach
Urs Wietlisbach is a co-founder of the private equity firm Partners Group, which he established in 1996 together with Fredy Gantner and Marcel Erni. He previously worked at Goldman Sachs & Co. and Credit Suisse and holds a Master’s degree from the University of St. Gallen (HSG).
Urs Wietlisbach is known for his innovative and client-focused approach to the investment business. Together with his co-founders at Partners Group, he has developed the firm into one of the world’s leading players in private markets.
In addition to his business activities at Partners Group, Urs Wietlisbach serves as Chairman of the Board of Blue Earth Capital and as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Blue Earth Foundation, which focuses on global impact investing.
Together with his wife Simone, he also founded the Ursimone Wietlisbach Foundation, which supports philanthropic initiatives for people in need, as well as projects in culture & sport and health & well-being. Furthermore, Urs Wietlisbach serves as Co-President of the Board of Trustees of Swiss Sport Aid and as President of Passion Schneesport.
Co-Founder @ Partners Group
2:50 pm - 3:20 pm
Direct Lending: Three Common Challenges and Misconceptions (ENG)
Mistral
Cockroaches and the Private Credit Bubble
The “Doom” of Software Lending
The Upper Middle Market offers no Value
Private Debt
Speaker:
Jean JosephBio
Jean Joseph
Jean Joseph is a Senior Managing Director at Blue Owl and member of the Direct Lending Investment Team. Jean is also a Portfolio Manager and a member of the First Lien Investment Committee. In his role, he focuses on direct lending to middle-market companies.
Before joining Blue Owl in 2018, Jean was a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs & Co. where he was Portfolio Manager in its Investment Management Division responsible for the management of the division’s leveraged loan strategies. Prior to that, Jean was a member of Goldman Sachs’ Leveraged Finance Group within the Investment Banking Division. Prior to Goldman Sachs, Jean was a member of the Wells Fargo Securities Leveraged Finance department and began his career as a credit analyst at GE Capital and Atherton Capital with a focus on middle market lending.
Jean received an MBA from the Goizueta Business School at Emory University, where he attended as a Consortium for Graduate Study in Management Fellow. Jean also received a BBA from the University of Notre Dame where he captained the Varsity Men’s Soccer Team and was a recipient of the Francis Patrick O’Connor Award. Jean is a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma business honor society.
Senior Managing Director @ Blue Owl
2:50 pm - 3:20 pm
Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) – A strategic allocation for institutional investors
Orient
Using batteries to power the global transition to a more sustainable energy system
Energy storage offers a compelling hedge against the inherent intermittency and market risks of wind and solar investments
BESS are no longer optional but a necessity to balance renewable generation
Infrastructure
Speaker:
Lefteris StrakosiasBio
Lefteris Strakosias
Lefteris Strakosias is an Investment Director in Gresham House’s Energy Transition team and Co-Fund Manager for the Gresham House Energy Storage II strategy. He has over 16 years of experience in energy transition and infrastructure investing, having held investment roles with Macquarie, Société Générale, National Pension Service of Korea (NPS), and Maple Power, alongside advisory and corporate development roles with Columbia Threadneedle Investments and Libra Group.
Lefteris has held roles across investment, asset management, and business development, with cross-sector and international exposure spanning battery storage, solar PV, onshore and offshore wind, hydroelectric power, anaerobic digestion, and broader infrastructure sectors including transport, utilities, and telecoms.
Investment Director @ Gresham House
2:50 pm - 3:20 pm
Asia Private Equity - Opportunities and Risks
Okzident
Why does Asia matter - macroeconomic & geopolitical update
Our perspectives on Asia private equity investing in China, India and Japan
The Asian secondary opportunity
Private Equity
Speaker:
Rebecca XuBio
Rebecca Xu
Rebecca Xu is a Co-Founder and Managing Director of Asia Alternatives. Ms. Xu splits her time between Asia Alternatives’ Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong offices. Ms. Xu is on the Firm’s Investment Committee and co-leads Asia Alternatives’ investments in growth and venture capital funds, focusing most of her time on Asia Alternatives’ China investments.
Prior to starting Asia Alternatives, Ms. Xu was a Senior Investment Officer at the Funds Group of the International Finance Corporation (“IFC”), the private sector investment arm of the World Bank Group. There, she had the primary responsibility of leading IFC’s fund investing and portfolio supervision in Asia for over six years. Previously, Ms. Xu also worked at McKinsey & Co, Inc. (Washington D.C.) and HSBC (Hong Kong).
Ms. Xu received an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the Foreign Affairs College in Beijing, China. Ms. Xu is fluent in Mandarin Chinese.
Ms. Xu currently serves on the Advisory Boards for a number of Asia Alternatives’ China and India private equity funds. In addition, she serves as the President (Chairwoman 2021-2025) of the Hong Kong Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (HKVCA) and on the Board of the Chun Hui Bo’ai Children’s Foundation.
Founding Partner @ Asia Alternatives
2:50 pm - 3:20 pm
The custodian as your strategic partner (GER)
Kristall
More than just control: The custodian as a strategic partner in asset management
Between supervision and cooperation – efficient interfaces between asset managers and custodians
Digitalization in the fund ecosystem: How custodians and asset managers can work together to create efficiency and transparency
Regulatory developments in asset management: Opportunities and challenges for custodians
Speaker:
Marc KriegsmannBio
Marc Kriegsmann
Based on his many years of professional experience in the fund industry, and particularly within alternative asset classes, Marc Kriegsmann possesses outstanding expertise, including in the areas of private equity and venture capital.
Thanks to his many years of professional experience in the fund industry, particularly in alternative asset classes, Marc Kriegsmann has outstanding expertise in areas such as private equity and venture capital.
In addition, Mr. Kriegsmann has been responsible for many years as branch manager and Head of Business Development Asset Servicing for the strategic orientation and, in particular, cooperation with institutional investors from the perspective of the custodian. In this role, Mr. Kriegsmann has gained a comprehensive understanding of the requirements of institutional investors/initiators with regard to the services of the custodian and other value-added banking services, and has implemented these accordingly.
Head of Business Development @ Hauck Aufhäuser Lampe Privatbank AG
3:25 pm - 3:55 pm
Tailwinds for Alternative Investments: New Structuring Approaches Following the Location Promotion Act (GER)
Mistral
Structuring options for institutional investors in Germany
Practical report: Experiences from current fund and mandate structures
Outlook: Areas of action for managers and institutional investors
The presentation highlights the new structuring and investment opportunities offered by the Standortfördergesetz and uses current practical examples to show how institutional investors can benefit from this in concrete terms. The focus is on why the reform strengthens Germany's position in particular compared to Luxembourg, thereby opening up new options for end investors.
Law & Regulation
Speaker:
Dr. Bela JansenBio
Dr. Bela Jansen
Dr. Bela Jansen has more than 20 years of experience in advising domestic and foreign clients on (investment) tax and regulatory issues in the area of asset management, as well as on all types of fund investments.
He advises both providers and institutional investors, in particular on tax law, on the establishment, structuring or restructuring of regulated and non-regulated investment funds and other investment products (private debt, real estate debt, infrastructure, securities, real estate, certificates, bonds, NPLs, private equity, hedge funds, derivative instruments, open and closed-end funds). In addition, he advises initiators and investors on the ongoing taxation of their investments and on their investments, including in the context of tax audits, objection and court proceedings.
A further focus is on tax law advice on the structuring and implementation of pension assets and pension obligations.
Partner @ Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH
Martin HüwelBio
Martin Hüwel
Martin Hüwel has many years' experience advising German and international clients on asset management as well as investment and insurance supervisory law. He advises both providers on structuring, setting up and distributing regulated and non-regulated domestic and foreign funds and other investment products and also institutional investors (including investors regulated under insurance supervisory law or banking supervisory law) on the acquisition of such investment products and on setting up their own investment platforms. A further focus of his work is providing supervisory law advice with regard to banking and financial services that require approval.
Partner @ Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH
3:25 pm - 3:55 pm
Real Estate Strategy and the Leverage Paradox
Orient
Are portfolios of core unlevered assets really defensive?
The consensus view: leverage adds risk
Challenging the consensus: can leverage reduce risk?
Real Estate debt as a true investment solution
Real Estate
Speaker:
Vincent NobelBio
Vincent Nobel
Vincent joined in January 2015 as the Head of Real Estate Debt and is now responsible for all asset-based debt strategies. He is responsible for leadership of the team and the coordination, origination, execution and management of commercial real estate debt investments for the Real Estate Senior Debt strategy and the Multi Asset Credit strategies. Prior to this, Vincent was a senior member of the M&G Real Estate Debt team from 2011, where he helped found and develop the Senior Real Estate Debt Fund. This fund successfully raised capital from third-party investors, and Vincent deployed over £2 billion in senior real estate debt investments across a range of assets and structures. Prior to this, Vincent worked for three years at Barclays Corporate in their specialist debt team, and before that at Barclays Capital from 2004, where he successfully led the structuring and negotiating of secured lending transactions within the Real Estate Group. Vincent has a MSc in International Business Studies from the University of Maastricht and an MA from Sciences-Po (IEP) in Paris.
Head of the Real Estate Debt strategy @ Federated Hermes
3:25 pm - 3:55 pm
Private Equity Secondaries: Liquidity, Opportunities, and Strategies in Transition
Okzident
From Niche to Core: The Evolution of the Secondaries Market
GP-led Deals & Continuation Vehicles: New Pathways to Liquidity
Market Outlook: Growth Drivers and Risks Through 2030
This session highlights the dynamic development of the private equity secondaries market. We demonstrate how secondaries have evolved from a niche strategy into a core building block of institutional portfolios. Key drivers to be discussed include slower exit activity, GP-led transactions, and the growing demand for liquidity. Secondaries offer attractive entry points, diversification benefits, and potentially higher risk-adjusted returns — particularly in periods of heightened market volatility.
Speaker:
Charlie BridgelandBio
Charlie Bridgeland
Charles Bridgeland is a Partner of Lexington Partners based in the London office. He is part of Lexington’s European secondaries investment team and is also involved in the firm’s EMEA investor relations coverage. Prior to joining Lexington in 2010, Mr. Bridgeland worked in private equity at 3i as well as in the UK M&A teams of Citigroup and Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein. He was educated at the University of Oxford (MA Hons) and the University of Bath (MSc).
Partner @ Lexington Partners by Franklin Templeton
3:55 pm - 4:20 pm
Coffee break
4:20 pm - 4:50 pm
Secondaries Unlocked: Insights Across All Asset Classes
Mistral
Market Development & Trends
Deal Structures & Market Dynamics
Opportunities & Risks
Cross-Sector Themes
Outlook & Takeaways
The lecture provides a comprehensive look at secondaries across all asset classes, highlighting key opportunities, risks, and market dynamics that are most relevant for investors seeking informed decision-making.
Speaker:
John BohillBio
John Bohill
Mr. Bohill is a Partner and member of the private debt investment committees for private debt primary, secondary and coinvestments.
Since Mr. Bohill joined StepStone in 2013, he has assisted in the growth of private debt offerings, with a particular focus on opportunistic credit and credit secondaries. He has acquired and operated several businesses and real estate projects on his own behalf, and was co-head of European technology and communications at BancBoston Capital, a principal private equity investor.
Mr. Bohill graduated with first-class honors with a BBs in finance from Trinity College, Dublin.
Partner @ StepStone Group
4:20 pm - 4:50 pm
Offshore Hedge Funds for VAG Investors (GER)
Orient
The Offshore Myth: “Are these funds truly investable for VAG investors?”
Regulatory Reality: How investability is effectively achieved
High-return strategies beyond UCITS — what offshore structures enable
Key success factors for robust, compliant implementation
Offshore hedge funds are often perceived by German VAG investors as being non-investable from a regulatory perspective. This presentation demonstrates why this assumption is incorrect. Using a systematic and holistic due diligence and implementation approach, it explains how offshore hedge funds can be structured to be fully compliant and investable.
The focus lies on the structural advantages compared to UCITS funds, which enable access to high-return, diversifying strategies. Institutional end investors will gain practical insights into how regulatory requirements, operational security, and attractive return potential can be successfully aligned — even in challenging market environments.
Speaker:
Marcus StorrBio
Marcus Storr
Marcus Storr is Managing Director Alternative Investments and Board Member of FERI (Luxembourg) S.A., and is responsible for the Hedge Funds and Private Markets divisions of FERI AG.
He has been with FERI since 2005 and, since 2019, has also served as a Member of the Management Board of FERI Luxembourg S.A., with responsibility for sales and portfolio management.
Marcus Storr has more than 25 years of experience in capital markets, M&A transactions, and manager selection. Prior to joining FERI, he served as Director in Global Equities at Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein and previously worked in investment banking at Robert Flemings Ltd. in London.
He holds a Master’s degree in Finance/Capital Markets and International Management/Economics from Humboldt University of Berlin and completed vocational training as a bank clerk.
In addition, he has published numerous professional articles and book contributions on hedge funds.
Managing Director Alternative Investments & Board Member FERI (Luxembourg) S.A. @ FERI AG
4:55 pm - 5:40 pm
Keynote: Fund Selection with Artificial Intelligence (GER)
Meridian
Forecasting the performance of actively managed funds is a difficult task. Nevertheless, academic research shows that various quantitative variables—such as past performance, fees, investment style, or manager characteristics—are associated with future fund performance. By combining such variables with methods of artificial intelligence, this information can be efficiently integrated. Empirical results indicate that funds selected in this way can achieve significantly better risk-adjusted returns than the average randomly selected investment fund.
Speaker:
Prof. Dr. Florian WeigertBio
Prof. Dr. Florian Weigert
Florian Weigert is a Full Professor and Chair of Financial Risk Management at the University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland. His research projects examine the determinants of the cross-sectional distribution of asset returns, performance measurement for hedge funds and investment funds, the financial impact of investors’ behavioral biases, and the application of artificial intelligence to portfolio strategies. Florian earned his doctorate summa cum laude in finance from the University of Mannheim. Prior to his position in Neuchâtel, he was an Assistant Professor at the University of St. Gallen and a Visiting Scholar at New York University, Georgetown University, Georgia State University, and the University of Texas at Austin (all USA). He is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Financial Research at the University of Cologne and a Visiting Lecturer at the Universities of St. Gallen, Lausanne, and Fribourg (all Switzerland).
His research has been presented at leading academic conferences, published in top-tier finance journals (including the Journal of Finance, Review of Financial Studies, and Journal of Financial Economics), and has received Best Paper Awards from the German Association of Alternative Investments and the Financial Management Association. In these publications, he has analyzed, among other topics, the effects of tail risk on the valuation of equities and hedge funds, the impact of cultural biases on fund managers’ portfolio construction, and the use of machine learning in predicting option returns.
He serves as Editor of the academic journal Financial Markets and Portfolio Management of the Swiss Society for Financial Market Research and is a Board Member of the Alpine Finance Summit, an annual academic conference of the Alpine countries Germany, Liechtenstein, Austria, and Switzerland. In professional practice, Florian is responsible for fund selection for a Swiss asset manager and works as an independent advisor and keynote speaker at academic and industry finance events.
Professor und Lehrstuhlinhaber für Digital Finance, TU München @ Technische Universität München
5:40 pm - 5:45 pm
Closing remarks
Meridian
Speaker:
Frank DornseiferBio
Frank Dornseifer
Frank Dornseiferis Managing Director of Bundesverband Alternative Investments e.V. (BAI), and responsible for the association's activities in the areas of politics, public relations, law and regulation (including cooperation with associations, members and investors).
He has been active for more than 20 years in various functions in investment management, capital markets and corporate law. He studied law at the universities of Bonn, Dublin (Trinity College) and Lausanne. After admission to the German Bar in 2000 he practiced various years as attorney in an international law firm in the field of corporate and securities law before joining the German Financial Regulator BaFin as deputy head of the policy unit within the investment management department. In this function he also represented BaFin in the Investment Management Committee of IOSCO. Mr. Dornseifer frequently publishes articles both on investment and corporate law and he is co-editor of legal commentaries on the German Investment Act and on the AIFM Directive. The finance committee of the German Bundestag, the EU commission and the European Parliament nominated him several times as expert on capital market law. Mr. Dornseifer frequently gives speeches at national and international conferences on investment and regulatory topics.
Geschäftsführer @ BAI e.V.
Legend: Keynote,Investorspeech/-panel, Private Debt, Private Equity, Real Estate, Infrastructure, Law & Regulation, ESG, Hedge Funds, various topics