Over the years, several private equity groups have taken a very active role in mergers, acquisitions, take-private transactions, and carve-outs activities in the chemical sector both in the USA as well as abroad.  In addition, strategic players have been active in acquisitions, divestitures, and restructurings while activist investors have often played a role.  This panel will focus on the major factors affecting the chemical industry and the corresponding investing landscape and will touch upon the challenges and opportunities offered to private equity investors.

Federico G.M. Mennella, CFA, Société board member and the Managing Director and Global Head – Chemicals & Materials, Rothschild & Co, will be the moderator.

Panelists:

Stephen d’Incelli, Managing Director, SK Capital Partners			Christopher Sand, Managing Director, Ardian Buyout

About our Speakers:

Stephen d’Incelli
Mr. d’Incelli is a Managing Director and plays a leading role in the firm’s investment strategy and execution focusing on the specialty materials, chemicals and pharmaceuticals industries.  He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of IPACKCHEM. He previously served as a member of the Board of Directors of Wavelength Pharmaceuticals, Perimeter Solutions, Noramco, Extractas Bioscience and Purisys.

Prior to joining SK Capital in 2015, Mr. d’Incelli was a Vice President at Sun Capital Partners where he played a significant role in sourcing and executing a variety of acquisitions and had active board-level responsibilities for several of Sun Capital’s portfolio companies across the diversified industrials, healthcare and consumer retail sectors. Before joining Sun Capital, Mr. d’Incelli worked in the Global Leverage Finance group at Lehman Brothers.

Mr. d’Incelli earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics with a minor in Psychology from Northwestern University.

Christopher Sand
Christopher Sand is a Managing Director with Ardian’s Buyout team, which invests in high-quality mid- and large-cap companies in both Western Europe and North America, applying transformational strategies to develop global leaders in their niche markets. Based in New York, Christopher focuses on the food and beverage, healthcare, and specialty chemical sectors. He serves on the Board of Directors of Angus Chemical Company and Florida Foods Products, among others.

Previously, Christopher was responsible for investments in the food & beverage, financial services, and industrial sectors at Centre Partners Management. He began his career in leveraged finance at RBS.

Christopher received an honors degree in economics, politics, and philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania.