Newly appointed British Business Bank boss David Hourican will headline next week’s inaugural Emerging Managers Forum in London, organised by the Guernsey Investment & Funds Association (GIFA).
EY is hosting and supporting the GIFA event at its London offices on Friday 23 October.
Mr Hourican, the bank’s Interim Chief Executive, will take part in the forum’s headline fireside conversation with Axe Ali, Global Head of Fund Advisory & Private Markets at EY.
The fireside conversation will be followed by expert-led breakout sessions and peer discussions under the Chatham House Rule, covering fund formation, UK regulation, fundraising, investor relationships and fund facilities.
Unlike a traditional conference, the forum has been designed around practical discussion and first-hand experience, with breakout sessions focusing on the challenges facing managers in the early stages of building their businesses.
GIFA said early registrations suggest strong demand for practical support among managers at formative stages of their development.
Approximately 32% of applicants are actively fundraising and a further 32% are establishing a management company, according to the organisation.
Target fund sizes range from below £10 million to more than £150 million, with venture capital, private equity and private credit strategies represented.
The forum also aims to connect emerging managers with Guernsey’s private capital ecosystem, where investment businesses manage or administer more than £1 trillion globally.
Support includes the Private Investment Fund (PIF) regime, under which qualifying funds can be registered within one business day, and the Fund Foundry programme, which provides selected managers with financial support, mentoring and technical expertise.
Ove Svejstrup, EY Partner and Executive Member of GIFA (pictured), said: “Emerging managers are often building a firm, developing an investment proposition and raising capital at the same time.
“Choosing the right structure and surrounding yourself with the right expertise can make a real difference during those formative years.
“Guernsey has a long-established private capital ecosystem and a range of flexible fund structures, but this forum is not about giving managers another jurisdictional sales pitch.
It is about bringing emerging managers together with people who have built, backed and advised funds, and creating an environment where they can have candid conversations about the decisions and challenges they face.”
Mr Hourican said: “First-time and emerging managers have an important role to play in the UK’s investment ecosystem.
The British Business Bank is focused on helping the next generation of fund managers establish institutional track records and unlock new sources of finance for high-growth UK businesses, Mr Hourican said.
The Bank’s Investor Pathways Capital initiative was a great example of this, supporting talented first-time fund managers from a wide range of backgrounds to launch and build their track records, he added.
“I look forward to joining the forum and discussing how we can continue to support emerging managers as they raise capital, build their businesses and prepare for growth,” he said.
Emerging fund managers can find out more and apply to attend the GIFA Emerging Managers Forum HERE.
