The Emerging Markets Private Equity Association (EMPEA) is a non-profit, independent, global industry association that promotes greater understanding of and a more favorable climate for private equity and venture capital investing in the emerging markets of Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.

EMPEA was founded in 2004 with the belief that private equity and venture capital can be critical drivers of economic growth in emerging markets while simultaneously generating strong returns for investors.  EMPEA’s members represent more than 50 countries and nearly $500 billion in assets under management.

African Venture Capital Association is a not-for-profit entity founded to promote, develop and stimulate private equity and venture capital in Africa. AVCA is committed to promoting high ethical standards of business conduct and professional competence in the private equity and venture capital industries.

BUSINESSDAY is Nigeria’s most influential and respected daily business newspaper, offering incisive coverage of business, politics, labour and other current affairs, written by the country’s top journalists. BUSINESSDAY is targeted at a niche audience of high achievers of Nigerian business. BUSINESSDAY is majority owned by Johnnic Communications West Africa Ltd – a partnership in which Johnnic Communications of South Africa holds 55% of the equity with the rest owned by Capital Alliance Private Equity and local partners. The balance of Business Day equity is held by foremost Nigerian entities and entrepreneurs.

Kaizen Venture Partners is an investment advisor that seeks to be the premier distressed investment firm in Africa and is committed to promoting distressed assets as a new asset class in Africa. Kaizen is also sponsoring the Kaizen Africa Special Situation Fund targeting  investments in distressed SMEs in Sub-Saharan Africa. We hope to use the conference to highlight the Nigerian opportunity through the voices of the professionals that have legal, financial and operational expertise necessary for distressed asset resolution.