The Inaugural UNC Kenan-FlaglerPrivate Equity Conference, re-branded as the Alternative Investments Conferencefor 2009, offered attendees a wide variety of current and expected trendswithin the alternative investment space and was a tremendous success.  The sold-outevent was held at The Rizzo Conference Center in Chapel Hill, NC onFebruary 1, 2008.  Representatives fromprivate equity, hedge fund, investment management and other alternativeinvestment firms spoke extensively on issues surrounding the recent convergenceof private equity and hedge fund strategies, lending practices in a difficultmarket, emergence of firms going public, and various other current industrytopics. 

The 2008 Conference theme was“Hedge Funds: Convergence or Conquest?” and featured impressive keynotespeeches from Dwight Anderson of OspraieManagement and Glenn Hutchins ofSilver Lake.  Over 150 professionalsalong with select faculty and students attended the event and responded withoverwhelmingly positive feedback.

We would like to express ourgratitude to UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA Class of 2008 graduates Joe DeSapri, SeanMiller and Chad Plotke for spearheading the inaugural conference and building the foundation for future success.