The Middle Market Buyouts Symposium 2008 in New York discussed the challenges faced by private equity funds in the current economic downturn. The keynote speaker, Christopher O’Brien of Investcorp International, discussed the events leading up to the credit crunch and the potential economic recession, as well as the outlook for middle market funds. The consensus was that funds with careful management of their investment portfolio and strong management teams leading their portfolio companies would continue to do well despite the difficult environment. The conference also featured panels on buying and operating mid-market companies in an economic downturn, as well as a moderated interview on middle market opportunities for distressed buyouts.
