09:00 – 09:30 | Registration & Networking Coffee

09:30-09:40 Chairwoman Opening Remarks

Mirna Marovic – President, CVCA, Managing Director, VentureXchange

09:40 – 10:30 SESSION 1

CAPITAL GETS SELECTIVE: WHAT WINS IN SEE’S NEXT DEAL CYCLE
As private equity and strategic capital in SEE becomes more selective, scale, execution capability, and platform potential are increasingly decisive. Investors are increasingly winning by building regional platforms rather than backing standalone assets. This session will compare standalone businesses with buy-and-build strategies, exploring how investors consolidate markets, add bolt-on acquisitions, and create scale in fragmented, family-owned sectors. Panellists will also discuss integration risk, execution speed, and what drives exit premiums today.

• Marko Hinic – Partner, Integral Venture Partners
• Jonathan Herren – Investment Professional, Private Equity Infrastructure (CEE), Actis 
• Ivailo Gospodinov – Managing Partner, BlackPeak Capital 
• Dino Bendekovic – Managing Partner Adriatic M&A, Marktlink

10:30 – 11:20 SESSION 2

CROSS-BORDER EXPANSION AND THE STRATEGIC BUYER ADVANTAGE

Corporate buyers are increasingly shaping SEE M&A, using regional expansion and operational synergies to outpace traditional private equity. This panel will explore how strategic acquisitions create value, the challenges of cross-border integration, and the competitive edge that corporates bring to today’s market. Attendees will gain actionable insights into deal execution, structuring, and driving growth across borders.

• Natasa Lalovic Maric – Partner, Wolf Theiss (Moderator)
• Kiren L. Naidoo – CEO, Frontier Pharma I Zdravlje AD
• Maja Barać Adrinek – Executive Director of Corporate Strategy and Development., Atlantic Grupa
• Miroslav Virijevic  – CFO, HTEC Group  

11:20 – 11:50 | Networking Break

11:50 – 12:40 SESSION

3 EXITS, NOT JUST ENTRIES
With SEE deal activity on the rise, understanding exit routes has never been more critical. This panel will explore the full spectrum of exit strategies – from IPOs and trade sales to secondary PE transactions – highlighting what works, what doesn’t, and the lessons from recent regional exits. Attendees will gain practical insights into preparing assets for sale, navigating valuation gaps, and maximizing returns in today’s competitive SEE market.

• Jelena Hrle – Partner, BDK Advokati (Moderator)
• Aleksandar Dragicevic – Principal,  MidEuropa
• Tomislav Tomljenovic – Regional Diretor, Adria, Enterprise Investors
• Martin Paev –  Chairman and CEO, SORTIS Group

12:40-13:40 | Lunch & Networking

13:40 – 14:30 SESSION 4

REGIONAL CHAMPIONS IN THE MAKING: THE RACE TO BUILD SEE MARKET LEADERS
A clear shift from local champions to regional category leaders is visible across sectors. This session explores why scale is now a prerequisite for premium valuations in SEE, which sectors can produce regional champions, when expansion multiplies—or destroys—value, and how PE and strategic investors approach regionalisation differently.

• Andrija Garofulić – Partner, Forvis Mazars (Moderator)
• Marko Galic – Partner, Provectus Capital Partners
• Tihomir Dyankov – CIO & Partner, INVENIO.partners

14:30 – 15:20 SESSION 5

FUNDING SEE DEALS: FROM LPS TO DEBT PROVIDERS
This panel explores how private equity fundraising, co-investments, and deal financing come together to drive M&A in SEE. Panelists will share insights from fund managers, LPs, banks, and corporate finance leaders on structuring transactions, optimizing leverage, and securing capital for complex deals. Attendees will gain practical lessons on navigating cross-border finance, meeting investor expectations, and executing deals in today’s competitive SEE market.

• Sebastian Skupien – Lead Senior Banker, CSEE, Manufacturing and Services, EBRD
• Črt Slokan – Managing Partner, PRVA Capital Partners
• Laurien Field – Senior Equity Specialist, Manufacturing, Agribusiness and Services, IFC
• Leon Batagelj – Co-Founder, EastPeak Invest

15:30 – 15:35 | Closing Remarks
Mirna Marovic – President, CVCA, Managing Director, VentureXchange

15:35 Networking Drink Reception