Agenda

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Days
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HOUrs
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MinUTES
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SecONDS
Speeches, Panels & Career Events

Beyond Leverage – Value Creation in the Age of Credit & Capital Innovation

Below you'll find the schedule of the WHU Private Equity Conference 2026.

Any schedule gaps will be filled with networking breaks. Unless stated otherwise, all events listed on the agenda will take place in the Congress Hall.

Interviews, workshops, and exclusive events will take place parallel to the main agenda. Please check your email inbox for information regarding these events.

Day 1

09:30
 – 
11:00
Check-In
11:00
 – 
11:15
Opening Note
By the WHU Private Equity Conference 2026 Team
11:15
 – 
12:00
Keynote Speech
Carsten Kratz, Partner, Bridgepoint
12:15
 – 
13:00
Fireside Chat
Jürgen Pinker, Senior Managing Director, Blackstone
13:00
 – 
13:45
Lunch
13:45
 – 
14:45
Deal Talk: "Looking at opportunities in a hyper volatile world - does Due Diligence need to change?"
With Philipp Müller (CD&R) and Dennis Bücker (AlixPartners)
15:00
 – 
17:30
Career Fair
17:30
 – 
18:15
Fireside Chat: "Re-engineering the Exit: Dividend Recaps, Structured Minorities and Continuation Vehicles"
With CD&R; Philipp Müller and Kris Tschischke
18:30
 – 
19:30
Aperitif
At the "Neue Mensa"
19:30
 – 
20:30
Flying Dinner
20:45
 – 
23:59
Casino Night

Day 2

10:00
 – 
12:00
Brunch
12:00
 – 
13:00
Panel: "Private Equity Across Company Maturity: Value Creation from Growth to Buyout in the Current Market Environment"
With Claus Zebe (CVC), André Perwas (3i), Jörn Nikolay (Brighton Park Capital)
13:15
 – 
14:00
Keynote Speech
Tobias Eichner, MD & Partner, BCG
14:15
 – 
15:15
Deal Talk: "Executing the Equity Story along the deal cycle"
With Claus Zebe (CVC) and Jan Kantowsky (AlixPartners)
15:15
 – 
15:45
Coffee and Cake
15:45
 – 
16:30
Fireside Chat
Alexander Geiser, CEO, FGS Global
16:30
 – 
16:45
Closing Note
By the WHU Private Equity Conference 2026 Team
19:00
 – 
22:30
Gala Dinner
LOCATION
LOCATION

Stadthalle (Congress Hall) Vallendar

The WHU Private Equity Conference 2026 will take place in Vallendar's very own Congress Hall, which is situated right next to the campus of WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management (walking distance of 2 minutes).

An image of the congress hall in Vallendar
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