With three generations of funds successfully invested since 2002 and a fourth closed in 2015, Ardian’s small cap activity has established a leading position across Europe with France, Germany and Italy-based investment professionals. The Expansion team focuses on companies valued at less than €250M, led by François. He leads the investments in Iliad/Free, Sateco, SynerLAB, Altares, Arkadin, Cegos, Micropross and Bio7.

Sam specialises in advising lenders to funds on financing products across all fund sectors (including private equity, secondary, primary, funds of funds and listed funds). She has been acting for lenders and funds for over a decade and her practice covers the full range of fund lending products, including capital call lines, general partner support and co-invests in facilities and secondary leverage facilities. Over the past 12 months Sam has advised on more than 50 new lending transactions totaling over £12 billion.

Matthew Judd is co-head of the firm’s private investment funds group and has 20 years' experience in UK and European funds formation. Matthew joined the firm in February 2012, having previously been head of the global investment funds practice of a leading US firm, and a partner in the private funds group of a Magic Circle firm. Matthew advises in relation to the structuring and establishment of private equity, real estate, infrastructure, and credit funds, private equity secondaries and carried interest and co-investment arrangements.

JZ International is an industrial holding investment group that specializes in investing in and growing small to medium-sized businesses in partnership with founders and entrepreneurs and Martin is responsible for origination, due diligence, and portfolio financing.

The European Investment Fund is part of the EIB Group and is the specialist provider of risk finance to benefit small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) across Europe. As part of the EIF Lower Mid-Market team, Thierry is responsible for making and monitoring new investments in the growth equity, hybrid debt-equity and debt segment in Europe. Throughout his career, Thierry analysed over 300 transactions and performed over 50 due diligences. His portfolio includes some 30 funds. Next to his investment activity, Thierry has been involved in the set-up of the Mezzanin Dachfonds für Deutschland (a EUR 200m investment program dedicated towards mezzanine funds in Germany) for which he also assumes the investor relations activities.

One of the top 5 European fund of funds and managing €9.1 billion in private equity assets, SL Capital is a leading asset manager working with clients from leading institutional investors including family offices and high net worth individuals from the UK, US and Europe. Mark is responsible for primary fund investments, secondary investments and direct co-investments in Europe. He also leads SL Capital's coverage of the UK and Germanic markets. Mark sits on SL Capital's Investment Committee and also serves on the Advisory Boards of a number of European private equity funds.