The Swiss National INSEAD Alumni Association To Host African Mid-Market Investment Panel at Zunfthaus zu Zimmerleuten, Zürich.

(ZUERICH) Sub Saharan Africa as an investment destination has gained the attention of both the Swiss and international financial community, but investment experience is limited to a few. In response, the INSEAD Alumni Association of Switzerland (IAAS) has invited to Zürich veterans with hands-on experience, such as legal advisors, entrepreneurs, finance executives, and negotiators to share their insights in an evening of panel discussions, followed by cocktails. Supported by Swiss-African Business Circle, IAAS will host the African Mid-Market Investment Panel on September 19, 2013.

"It is not only our panel members that have rich experience, but also the attendees registered for the event who are indeed specialists. They hail from well-known Swiss institutions, family offices, and international trading companies with active interest in Africa," said Richard Bissonnet, President INSEAD Alumni Association Switzerland.

Held at Zunfthaus zu Zimmerleuten in partnership with the Swiss-African Business Circle on September 19, the invitation-only event is a rare gathering of seasoned professionals in Africa’s mid-market.

"The question we seek to provide an answer to on September 19th is not why should we invest in Africa, rather the question to be discussed is what are the professional practices required to invest in the region’s exciting growth opportunities," said Bissonnet.

Sessions will include: the African Mid-Market Investment Overview: Defining the mid-market, Which sectors, Which countries, chaired by Chris Clarkson, Head Corporate & Investment Banking, Standard Bank Africa (Johannesburg, South Africa). Panelists will discuss topics such as Selection and Investment Execution with a focus on Equity, Finance, Debt, Direct Investment, and Distributing risk.

The invited speakers include Christophe Asselineau, Partner, Shearman & Sterling (Paris, France), Anat Bar-Gera, Chairperson, YooMee Africa (Zurich, Switzerland), Joe Delvaux, Head African & Middle East Investment, Quantum Global Investment Management (Zürich, Switzerland), Jean-Michel Lavoizard, General Manager, Aris Intelligence (Abidjan, Ivory Coast), Amber Mahood, Director of Fund Development, Fusion Investment Management (London, UK), Michael Southam, Partner, RockSparrow (Geneva/Zurich, Switzerland). (For more information, see the event programme here.)