NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

This webinar will delve into the dynamic landscape of Private Equity (PE) and Venture Capital (VC) with a focus on risk appetite and the evolving expectations of investors. In this session, Lazar Vujaklija, Partner and Director of Systema Capital Partners, will share invaluable insights into equity financing strategies that involve embracing risk in unconventional geographies.

In the Western Balkans (WB) region, companies are mainly financed by traditional banking instruments that are conservative and focus on collateral. In more developed countries, alternative investment funds are used, which are well-capitalized institutions deploying capital from various investors into private companies through equity or equity-like tools.

Western Balkans Private Equity Fund, in collaboration with USAID CATALYZE, has spent the last two years working on the creation of such a fund and will, in the course of this webinar, outline the trajectory, hurdles, and successes we’ve encountered along the way. This experience could shed light on what steps can be taken in the future to see the creation of a vibrant ecosystem of alternative sources of finance within the Western Balkans and other frontier markets.

Speakers will share practical insights on how to navigate the private equity landscape and attract anchor investors for private equity funds in the WB context. They will provide examples of international financial institutions (IFIs) acting as anchor investors and discuss the role of Development Agencies in the WB and Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). Moreover, they will explore ways in which donors can support the establishment of anchor investors.

Learn how USAID CATALYZE is playing a crucial role in opening doors for the Investment Fund Industry in the region, establishing the first AIF asset management company, and making PE and VC more readily trusted as investment mechanisms.

Time: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM EDT