Anjana Haines, Editor, Real Deals

• What global policy shifts and political disruptions in 2025 had the biggest operational impact on PE-backed companies, and how are firms adapting?
• How can PE firms embed agility into their value creation strategies that quickly adapt to tariff shocks and sudden regulatory changes?
• How do GPs communicate proactively with LPs to maintain confidence during political and economic upheaval?
• What geopolitical and economic scenarios are on the horizon in 2026 and how can portfolio companies prepare to protect value and seize opportunity?
  

• Why are critical risks like cybersecurity and compliance being uncovered too late in the deal cycle?
• What does real cyber resilience look like in mid-market companies beyond annual audits and outsourced IT?
• Why value erosion from security failures often stems from weak operational alignment, not just technical gaps?
• How PE firms are shifting from checklist-style reviews to internal stress testing and scenario-based risk modeling?
  

• What are the most practical ways to quantify culture during due diligence and why is it critical to value protection?
• What red flags are most often missed in traditional talent due diligence and how do they erode value post-deal?
• What are the most effective early-post-close interventions to activate talent and culture?
• Which leadership profiles and C-suite archetypes consistently drive value creation in volatile market conditions?
  

• What is the most effective operational value creation model today and why?
• How are PE firms adapting their operating models to deliver value in the face of extended hold periods and evolving investment strategies?
• How to balance external operating expertise with preserving portfolio company ownership and autonomy.
  

• What does it mean to be “exit-ready” in today’s environment of unpredictable timelines and shifting buyer dynamics
• Strategies for GPs to close distribution gaps with LPs without sacrificing long-term portfolio value
• What evolving investor expectations are shaping exit planning for the next decade?
• How are buyers evaluating digital maturity at exit, and what capabilities are most likely to drive premium valuations in today’s market?
  

• Beyond growth targets, what are the hidden blockers to unlocking real portfolio value?
• How do CEOs balance long-term value creation with today’s relentless pressure for quick wins?
• What are CEOs doing to build teams and cultures that don’t just survive disruption, but thrive in it?
  

• How are PE firms restructuring teams and decision-making processes to integrate AI strategically across portfolio companies?
• What new leadership roles and skills are emerging to manage AI adoption and its associated risks?
• Real examples of agentic AI adding value from autonomous deal sourcing to dynamic portfolio performance monitoring.
• What are some of the emerging risks in AI governance, IP, and ethics that PE must address as AI expands its role in decision making?
  

Participants will be divided into groups. After launching a series of live polls with results displayed in real time, groups will analyse live poll results, discuss why certain options were more popular, explore their implications for value creation in PE, and share their insights, followed by a second poll with a new question.

• How are large-cap players reshaping value creation across buyouts, minority stakes, and co-investments?
• What value creation tactics are transferable across deal types and which must be custom-built?
• How are secondaries and continuation vehicles altering the timeline and nature of operational intervention?
• How is the rise of non-control and continuation vehicles changing the definition of value creation?
  

Anjana Haines, Editor, Real Deals