30th January 2014 | Hilton Tower Bridge Hotel, London

This technical conference, the 9th annual, provides an excellent opportunity for all of our attendees to discuss the progress made in 2013, and to debate this year’s hot topics, and to network with leading decision makers in the global telecoms industry.

This technical conference, the 9th annual, provides an excellent opportunity for all of our attendees to discuss the progress made in 2013, and to debate this year’s hot topics, and to network with leading decision makers in the global telecoms industry.

AGENDA

8:00-9:00

Registration and Networking Breakfast

9:00-9:05

Official opening

Ben Bschor, Editor, TelecomFinance

9:05-9:35

Keynote address 

Richard Hunter, Managing Director, Global Head of Corporate Ratings, Fitch Ratings

9:35-10:35

M&A session: 2013 witnessed the return of telecoms M&A with a number of high profile transactions. But is the trend set to continue? Crossborder or in-country consolidation, convergence or economies of scale – what are the deal drivers in 2014?

Moderator: Roger Barron, Co-Head Global TMT Practice, Linklaters

Speakers: Christian Lesueur, Managing Director, Head of TMT Investment Banking, EMEA, UBS

Robert Knorr, Senior Partner, Mid Europa Partners; Tim Knowles, Head of M&A, Etisalat Group

Hervé Malausséna, MD, Moelis & Company

10:35-11:00

Networking Break

11:00-11.10

Presentation: Mexico’s new Telecoms Regulation

Luis Fernando Borjón Figueroa, Commissioner, Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones (IFT), Mexico

11:10-12:00

Regulatory panel: Telcos in Europe push for more lenient regulation while the EC reviews deals in Ireland and Germany. Meanwhile, in nations like Mexico, regulators are tightening the screws. Representatives from both sides discuss the telecoms regulation.

Moderator: Jan Willem van den Bos, Head of Telecom Group UKMEA, Dentons

Speakers: Luis Fernando Borjón Figueroa Commissioner, Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones (IFT), Mexico

Manuel Kohnstamm, Chief Policy Officer, Liberty Global; Gita Sorensen, Director Communications & Media and Economic Regulation, BRG

Markus Wagemann, Head of Telecoms, German Federal Cartel Office

Ben Wreschner, Head of Regulatory Economics, Vodafone Group

12:00 -12:25

Presentation: Seeking new value in adjacent opportunities

Michael Dargue, Principal, CSMG

12:25-13:25

 Strategy Panel: M&A or organic growth – what is the best way forward? Telecoms strategists discuss the best way to tackle new markets and increase profitability.

Moderator: Patrick Bellenbaum, Partner, Solon Management Consulting

Speakers: Philipp Meier-Scherling, Head of Telecoms EMEA, Deutsche Bank

Sergey Plykin, Group Director Strategy, VimpelCom; Martin Weiss, Executive VP Strategy & Corporate Development, Millicom

13:25-14:40

Networking Lunch

14:40-15:00

Special Presentation: Telecoms comes home

Amanda Hale, Partner, Herbert Smith Freehills

15:00-16:00

Infrastructure panel: Outsourcing infrastructure continues to be attractive and has created a steady deal flow for years. What are the next markets, and could TowerCos become FibreCos?

Moderator: Darragh Stokes, Managing Partner, Hardiman Telecommunications

Speakers: Wafik Al Shater, CEO, LAP GreenN; Terry Rhodes, Co-Founder and Director, Eaton Towers

Chuck Green, CEO, Helios Towers

Jussi Hätönen, Investment Officer, New Products & Special Transactions Dept, European Investment Bank

Gilles Tré-Hardy, EMEA Tech and Telecoms Team, in charge of telecoms infrastructure, Lazard

16:00-16:25

Networking Break

16:25-17:25

Finance Panel: In 2013 many telcos refinanced and reduced their overall debt burden with varying degrees of success. Some turned to hybrid bonds to avoid downgrades. What mechanisms will dominate in the new year, and how will tapering affect the bond market?

Moderator: Ed Ansell, Chief Editor, Finance Publications, Press Association

Speakers: Marisa Drew, Co-Head EMEA Investment Banking and Co-Head Global Markets Solutions Group, Credit Suisse

Neal Milsom, CFO, EE; Karim Nasr, CEO, Digital World Capital; Mark Atkins, Director, Global Credit Risk Management, Huawei

17:25 onwards

Closing remarks and TelecomFinance Awards