Private equity -themed event was held on 14th April at Hotel Kämp

On April 14, 2023, a highly requested event on Private Equity Investments - the Institutional Approach was held at the prestigious Hotel Kämp. The event was exclusively for members and featured prominent speakers in the pension fund industry who discussed their views on private equity investments and the role that they play in their portfolios.

The event was organized to shed light on private equity investments and how institutional investors, particularly pension fund investors, select investments in this area. Private equity investments have become increasingly popular in recent years as a way for investors to diversify their portfolios and generate higher returns than traditional investments.

The event featured three prominent speakers, Topi Piela, CEO at Pension Fund of Finnish Broadcasting Company (Yle), Ilja Ripatti, CFA Senior Portfolio Manager, Co-investments and Direct unlisted equity investments at Ilmarinen, and Tommi Walther, CFA, Head of Private and Equity Debt, Varma. Each speaker provided insights into their investment strategies and the role of private equity investments in their portfolios.

From left: Topi Piela, Ilja Ripatti, Tommi Walther and Toni Iivonen.

The panelists elaborated many central topics around the private equity sphere, emphasizing the importance of manager selection and long-term investments in this asset class. They also highlighted the challenges and rewards of investing in private equity and the need for thorough due diligence when choosing the right investments. Also discussed was the valuation dilemma for private equity, what sort of data points might be used and how to scale private equity with the valuation of public investments.

The event was moderated by CFA Society Finland board president, Toni Iivonen, CFA, who guided the discussion and encouraged audience participation. Attendees had the opportunity to ask questions and engage with the speakers which added to the richness of the conversation.

In conclusion, our event was greatly interesting, providing valuable insights into the world of private equity investments and the role they play in institutional portfolios. The event provided an excellent opportunity for our membership to learn from experts in the field and to network with other industry professionals. Thank you to all attending our event!