COURSE NUMBER: MBA 294.9

COURSE TITLE: Private Equity Speaker Series

UNITS OF CREDIT: 1

INSTRUCTOR: Stephen Etter

STUDENT ORGANIZERS: Julia MacDonald and Scarlett Li

E-MAIL ADDRESSES: Julia_MacDonald@mba.berkeley.edu, Scarlett_Li@mba.berkeley.edu

MEETING DAY(S)/TIME: Wednesdays, 4-6PM, Fall B only

This course will meet on 10/26, 11/2, 11/9, 11/16 and 11/30.

CLASS FORMAT: Speaker Series

REQUIRED READINGS: Speaker bios and selected readings.

BASIS FOR FINAL GRADE: Attendance and class participation. No more than one absence allowed. Attendance at the first class on 10/29 is MANDATORY. The first session will provide crucial background that will allow students to learn the most from each speaker and be able to ask informed questions. If you are unable to attend the first class meeting you must contact the Student Organizers prior to the next class session, in order to review the material you missed. Wide participation during class is a key factor in the success of the course. Our speakers are contributing their extremely valuable time and expect students to be engaged and prepared with interesting questions regarding their topic of discussion. High quality participation creates an environment that speakers want to return to in future semesters and enhances the reputation of the course in the PE community, making it easier to continue attracting high-quality speakers. To this end, in order to receive credit for each session students will be required to submit to the organizer 3 questions ahead of each week’s discussion which are relevant to that week’s area of focus.

ABSTRACT OF COURSE'S CONTENT AND OBJECTIVES:

The objective of MBA294, a one-unit seminar class, is to provide you with an overview of private equity investing through weekly interactions with a diverse group of accomplished industry professionals from institutions such as buyout funds, mezzanine capital funds, equity fund limited partners, and third-party service providers. In addition to reviewing the roles of each party involved, the course will also focus on various steps in the deal process, demonstrate the varying investment strategies of select industry players, highlight current market trends, and provide both financial and strategic insight into this dynamic asset class. The course aims to provide an introduction to multiple facets of aprivate equity investing for all students, ranging from those preparing for a career in private equity to those simply interested in learning about the industry.