May 28-30, 2008

Montreal, Quebec

Thank you to all speakers, sponsors and attendees for making this event such a grand success!!

Here is a link to all speaker presentations, bios, photos and video clips:

http://www.vcractive.com/clients/cvca/ 

This year’s theme was ‘The Face of Change’ and the conference explored the triggers to change that impact our industry. Triggers such as revitalized industries, Cleantech, bull/bear market, buyouts, M&A, Sarbanes Oxley, foreign currencies, legislations, capital supply, IPO exits and competition between stock markets, the birth of the PE/VC industry in Brazil, China & India and global competition.

The conference kicked off with a welcome cocktail event on the Wednesday evening and included a Gala dinner on the Thursday and the presentation of CVCA’s “Entrepreneur of the Year” Award followed by our popular scotch-tasting networking event. We also offered attendees an optional golf day on Wednesday at one of Quebec's outstaning courses: “CLUB DE GOLF DE LA VALLÉE DU RICHELIEU”. We added a Cyber Cafe and an Espresso Bar to further enhance networking opportunities.

  ENGLISH Brochure pdf           FRENCH Brochure pdf

Wednesday, May 28, 2008 Conference attendees extended their networking time prior to the conference with a day of golf for a nominal fee:
9:00 am - 3:00 pm	Golf Event & Reception at CLUB DE GOLF DE LA VALLÉE DU RICHELIEU
3:00 - 7:00 pm	Conference Registration
5:00 - 7:00 pm	Welcome Cocktail Networking Reception Sponsored by Coller Capital Ltd.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
7:00 am	Breakfast Buffet
8:15 am	Welcoming Remarks & President's Address sponsored by Conference Chair, Chris Arsenault, Managing Partner & COO, iNovia Capital Inc.
	Rick Nathan, President, CVCA – Canada's Venture Capital & Private Equity Association and Managing Director, Kensington Capital Partners
8:30 am	Session 1 - The Outlook for the Industry: Fundraising, Investment, Performance and Economic Impact The panel will discuss where the Canadian and global venture capital and private equity industry has been and where it is going. Panelists will touch upon structural and performance issues set against the backdrop of the growing contribution of the industry to economic development. Importantly, the panelists will offer their insights into the external and internal forces that are expected to shape the industry in the years to come. Introduction by Jacques Simoneau, Executive Vice President, Investments, - BDC Venture Capital Moderator: Alan Hibben, CEO, RBC Capital Partners Panelists: Andrew Waitman, Managing Partner, Celtic House Venture Partners Dr. Gilles Duruflé , Independent Consultant Michael Lay, Managing Partner, ONCAP Management Partners LP Robert Palter, Director, McKinsey & Company
9:30 am	Session 2 - International Technology Transfer - Value Added Investing The traditional venture capital/technology investment model is broken. It is becoming harder and harder to generate attractive returns through the deployment of passive capital. Consensus Community has built an innovative global platform designed to accelerate and support the international expansion of technology companies - exploiting relationships with governments and multinational corporations, and positioning companies for exceptional value growth and realization. Introduction by Sylvain Gareau, Senior Vice President, Funds, Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec Julian Wheatland, Chief Executive, Consensus Community
10:30 am	Coffee / Networking Break
11:00 am	Session 3 - Managing Funds: Management, Succession & Investor Relations While you are out doing deals, who is running your fund? Whether you are a private equity or venture capital firm, the difference between raising or not raising that all-important next fund can depend on how you manage your internal affairs, deal with your partners' expectations, employees' career progression and the relationships with your investors. Come hear experts discuss the do's, the don'ts and the trends that will give you an edge from a non-deal perspective. Introduction by Line Racette, Partner, Advisory Services, KPMG LLP (CANADA) Moderator: William Chu, Vice President, Oak Hill Investment Management Panelists: David S. Bauman, Managing Director, Tailwind Capital Dominique Hansen, Director, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. Deborah Hodges, Chief Operating Officer and Partner, MidOcean Partners Dr. Joyce Tsang, Partner, ProQuest Investments
Noon	Luncheon Sponsored by Deloitte Keynote Speaker: Roger McNamee, Managing Director and Co-Founder, Elevation Partners Facing Change: How I Invest in a Turbulent Environment
2:00 pm	Concurrent Session 4A - Private Equity Tackling Income Trusts: The Inevitable Change 2011: a real and looming deadline. The Income Trust landscape has been changing and continues to be in flux. Come and hear different perspectives on the business trusts that have already gone private and those that should; from management teams, the Funds that took them private and the I Bankers that helped put the deals together. Get their most up to date views on how the next few years will play out. Introduction by Louis-Philippe Berti, Partner, Transaction Advisory Services, Ernst & Young Moderator: W. Ian Palm, Partner, McCarthy Tétrault LLP Panelists: Andrew Federer, Managing Director, Global Investment Banking and Head, Canadian Financial Sponsor Coverage, RBC Capital Markets Daniel McCarthy, Vice Chairman, CIBC World Markets Gilbert S. Palter, Chief Investment Officer and Managing Partner , EdgeStone Capital Partners John Young, Vice President, OMERS Capital Partners Concurrent Session 4B - Follow - On Financings - Opportunities and Pitfalls With over 75% of Series B rounds financing rounds closings at higher valuations, the North American GP’s are fighting over deals. That’s in the US, but what about Canadian transactions? At the same time Canada is opening up its regulation, so what’s happening to cross-border deals and the tax implications? Are investors using different or new metrics of evaluation when moving forward with Series B and C rounds? And what type of competition and impact on valuation are alternative financings creating? Moderators: Stephen Hurwitz, Partner, Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP Brian Lenihan, Partner, Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP Panelists: Jim Charlton, Senior Vice President, Investments, Information Technology, GrowthWorks Capital Ltd. Charles R. Lax, Managing General Partner, GrandBanks Capital Leo Lax, CEO, Skypoint Capital Corporation Matt McCooe, Managing Partner, Chart Venture Partners J. P. Michael, Senior Vice President & Regional Managing Director , Comerica Bank
3:15 pm	Coffee / Networking Break
3:45 pm	Concurrent Session 5A - The Capital Structure Dilemma: a Varied Menu Come hear from a broad range of Lenders who provide the Debt Capital structures in support of today's highly leveraged Private Equity transactions. From the more conventional senior revolver – term loans with sub debt combinations, to first lien / second lien, to a uni-tranche. Each approach has its merits. We will highlight what got done in the past, what’s on the menu today, at what levels and price, and explore the market differences you will encounter if your transaction is in Canada versus the US. Introduction by Michael. P. Whitcombe, Senior Partner & Vice Chair, Corporate Business, McMillan Binch Mendelsohn LLP Moderator: Mike Badham, Partner, Financial Advisory Corporate Finance, Deloitte & Touche Panelists: Craig F. Gardner, Director, Global Syndicated Finance, RBC Capital Markets Vipon Ghai, Managing Director, Manulife Capital Richard Kinlough, Managing Director and Group Head, CIT Corporate Finance, Canada Robert C. Olsen, Director, Goldman Sachs Special Situations Group Howard Steinberg, Managing Director, Fortress Investment Group Concurrent Session 5B - Way out West - The Rapidly Changing Venture Landscape in Western Canada The panel will explore the growing venture capital market in the West, how it is different despite being in the same country, and provide thought provoking debate about how this impacts the changing face of venture capital in Canada. Introduction by Aliisa Rosenthal, Director, Canadian Business Development, Capital IQ Moderator: Rick Nathan, Managing Director, Kensington Capital Partners and President, CVCA Panelists: David Adderley, General Partner and Chief Operating Officer, Celtic House Venture Partners Inc. Ross Bricker, President & CEO, AVAC Ltd. Mike Satterfield, General Partner, Yaletown Venture Partners
6:00 pm	Gala Cocktail Reception Sponsored by HKMB International Insurance Brokers and Chubb Insurance
7:30 pm	Gala Dinner Sponsored by RBC Royal Bank of Canada CVCA's ‘Entrepreneur of the Year Award' presentation Entertainment - An evening with Moonalice Moonalice descends from a native American tribe where everyone wants to play bass. Led by G.E. Smith (former band leader for Saturday Night Live, Bob Dylan, and Hall & Oates), Moonalice includes Pete Sears (Jefferson Starship, Rod Stewart, Hot Tuna), Barry Sless (Phil Lesh & Friends), Jim Sanchez (Dr. John), Ann McNamee (Ann Atomic), and Roger McNamee. It’s a new band of veteran players, playing 60s-style music in new ways. They will be playing for us at the conclusion of a six-week east coast tour. Join the tribe (and listen to its music) at www.moonaliceband.com/.
10:00 pm	Scotch-Tasting Sponsored by Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP
Friday, May 30, 2008
7:00 am	Breakfast Buffet
8:15 am	Opening Announcements
8:30 am	Concurrent Session 6A - The Evolving Private Equity Marketplace: How Investors will get their Edge Many market factors are impacting the current deal environment: currency fluctuations, the US housing market meltdown, a potential US recession and its impact on Canadian companies, the 2007 capital markets crisis and the fallout that remains, and yet, a large number of funds with capital to deploy. Senior private equity professionals will give their views on how they are dealing with these challenges, and how they will get their edge over their competitors going forward - winning deals and then creating and maximizing value through exits. Introduction by Peter Castiel, Partner, Stikeman Elliott LLP Moderator: Carol McLellan, Senior Underwriting Specialist, Chubb Insurance Company of Canada Panelists: Michael J. Bernstein, Executive Director, Head of Canadian Infrastructure and Utilities Advisory, Macquarie Capital Markets Canada Ltd. Cody Church, Managing Director, Triwest Capital Partners Mark MacTavish, Principal, ONCAP Management Partners L.P. Concurrent Session 6B - Growth Opportunities in Canadian Cleantech Investing Cleantech investing has become one of the hottest sectors for both venture and public market investors. Canada has now become a hotbed for emerging and high growth Cleantech companies. Senior Cleantech Venture investors and public market specialists will provide their views on where the growth opportunities are in Canada and the significant exit potential for Cleantech companies on the TSX. Introduction by Gavin Penny, Analyst, Private Equity, Thomson Reuters Moderator: Wally Hunter, Managing Partner, EnerTech Capital Canada Ltd Panelists: David Berkowitz, General Partner, Ventures West Capital Ltd Scott MacDonald, Partner, Emerald Technology Ventures Susan McLean, Senior Manager, Business Development , TSX Group Dr. Vicky J. Sharpe, President & CEO, Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) Todd Wilson, General Partner, RockPort Capital Partners
10:00 am	Coffee / Networking Break
10:30 am	Concurrent Session 7A - PE Fund raising: The LPs & GPs Perspectives Are you going to be raising a fund in the next 12 months? Do you want to stay abreast of the views of today's Limited Partners? Come listen to our panel of LPs and GPs discuss their perspectives, including effective strategies for raising money in today's challenging climate. Moderator: Graeme Johnson, Managing Director, Kensington Investment Management Panelists: Jacques Bernier, Senior Vice-President, Information Technologies, Telecommunications and Industrial Innovations, Fonds de solidarité FTQ Marc Beauchamp, Founder and Managing Partner, Novacap Technologies Eric Bonnor, Vice President of Private Equity, Brookfield Asset Management Seth C. Hall, Portfolio Manager, Alternative Investments, California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) Chuck Flynn, Managing Director, Head of Private Equity Funds and Direct/Coinvestments, Bregal Private Capital John Greenwood, Managing Director, TD Capital Private Equity Investors
	Concurrent Session 7B - VC Fund raising perspectives: are LPs & GPs at a crossroad? The Canadian Venture Capital industry has gone through major changes over the last 3 years. General Partners and Limited Partners alike are now assessing the impact of these changes and planning their next move. This session will provide insight and perspective from both GPs & the LPs. Through a factual overview of the Canadian VC industry, the panelists will outline the opportunities and challenges they are currently facing, and how they expect to become successful. Moderator: Daniel Dupont, Partner, Coller Capital Panelists:  Ted Anderson, Managing General Partner, Ventures West Capital Inc. Sylvain Gareau, Senior Vice President, Funds, Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec John W. Marshall, Director, Outreach, Promotion and Business Development Branch, Ministry of Research and Innovation, Government of Ontario Ken Pastor, General Partner, CTI Life Sciences Fund Pascal Tremblay, General Partner, Novacap Rosemary Zigrossi, Vice President, Asset Mix and Risk, Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan
Noon	Closing Remarks
12:10 pm	Networking Lunch Sponsored by Export Development Canada

ENGLISH Brochure pdf           FRENCH Brochure pdf

OUR 2008 CONFERENCE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE:

CHAIR - Chris Arsenault, Managing Partner & COO, iNovia Capital Inc. 

Sandra Bosela, Partner, EdgeStone Capital Partners Inc.
Ross Bricker, President & CEO, AVAC Ltd.
Jim Charlton, Senior Vice President, Investments. GrowthWorks Capital Ltd.
Gilles Duruflé, Private Equity Consultant
Shannon L. Ernst, Vice-President, Richardson Capital Limited
Daniel Fortier, Conseiller en communication et marketing, Fonds de solidarité (FTQ)
Ralph Goldsilver, Partner, Horwath Orenstein LLP
Thomas Hayes, President & CEO, Atlantic Canada, GrowthWorks Atlantic
Steven Hnatiuk, Partner, Yaletown Venture Partners
Wally Hunter, Managing Partner, EnerTech Capital Canada
Graeme Johnson, Partner, Kensington Capital Partners Limited
Richard Kinlough, Managing Director, Group Head, CIT Corporate Finance, Canada
Monique Laliberte, Life Sciences Investment Manager, Caisse de dépôt et de placement du Québec (CDP)
Lauren Linton, Director of Marketing, CVCA
Matthew McCooe, Managing Partner, Chart Venture Partners
Kevin Melnyk, Partner, Priveq Capital Funds
Ian Palm, Partner, McCarthy Tetrault LLP
Richard Remillard, Executive Director, CVCA
Kathryn Ryan, Director of Operations, CVCA

OUR 2008 SPONSORS:

PLATINUM SPONSORS

GOLD SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSORS

MEDIA PARNTERS