November 30, 2022 | NEW YORK
Agenda- Eastern Standard Time
NETWORKING LUNCHEON
12:30pm - 1:45pm
LUNCHEON WORKSHOP
12:45pm - 1:45pm INTEGRATING ESG CONSIDERATIONS INTO SPECIALTY FINANCE
- Where are the opportunities to apply ESG concepts at specialty finance companies? What are the key challenges to overcome?
- How are investors and lenders considering ESG in their assessment of specialty finance companies? What are LPs demanding of private equity firms in terms of ESG? How is the landscape changing and how is that shaping different investment mandates?
- Trends in sustainability-linked loans
- Key considerations in establishing ESG criteria, conducting due diligence and implementing an ESG strategy
- Examples of ESG-focused companies in specialty finance, including women and minority-led companies and companies that finance projects in energy efficiency, renewable energy, carbon reduction and remediation and agriculture.
ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION
1:45pm - 3:15pm ROUNDTABLE 1: INTEREST RATE HEDGING FOR SPECIALTY FINANCE FIRMS
Choose your topic for an interactive discussion with fellow attendees on the most pressing issues facing the industry. Network at small tables and participate in lively topical conversation. This provides an excellent opportunity to meet your industry peers in a unique setting.
- Hedging net interest margin versus hedging the market value of fixed assets
- Common pitfalls in bank loan hedge requirements and covenants
- Springing interest rate casps: Friend or Foe
- Five different SOFR indices and which may be best for you
ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION
1:45pm - 3:15pm ROUNDTABLE 2: THE EVOLVING ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY IN SPECIALTY FINANCE
- How artificial intelligence, blockchain and other innovative technologies are disrupting and transforming specialty finance
- Are there any good investment opportunities in crypto? What are the prospects for companies that securitize and tokenize hard assets and securities?
ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION
1:45pm - 3:15pm ROUNDTABLE 3: ALTERNATIVE ASSET CLASSES & RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR INVESTORS
This roundtable features innovations in specialty finance that have impacted the evolution of the space. The session is an open forum to discuss asset classes that are relatively new or are generating significant interest and strategies for investors to manage risk in this challenging environment.
- Asset classes within specialty finance that will be discussed: litigation finance, mortgage servicing rights, income share agreements, royalties, life settlements, insurance premium and insurance commission advances, cannabis finance, financing lending against museum quality fine art and debt settlement
- Diversification strategies and new asset classes to hedge risk
- Specialty finance company valuations have declined in the unsecured consumer lending space. How do companies in this sector, lenders and investors plan to weather the storm?
- Many investors have lent to early stage specialty finance companies that are not profitable. How are investors planning to keep these positions healthy? How will they work out of these positions?
- Active portfolio management strategies to manage risk: key considerations in having conversations with portfolio companies about their recession plan, how to reduce tenor and increase rates if the cost of funds increases; appropriate use of enhanced collateral monitoring and reporting requirements
- Interest rate hedging as a risk management strategy for investors
CHAIRPERSON’S CONCLUDING REMARKS & NETWORKING RECEPTION
3:15pm - 4:15pm
