On behalf of The Wharton School and the Wharton Private Equity Club, we are delighted to welcome you to the Eighth Annual Wharton Private Equity Conference.

The Wharton Private Equity Conference continues its tradition as a unique forum for students, alumni, faculty, and industry leaders to discuss recent trends and emerging issues in the private equity and venture capital industries. The conference is designed to foster education and dynamic interaction among people active in the private equity arena. Furthermore, the conference aims to highlight Wharton's multi-disciplinary program and enhance the school's position as a leading source of industry professionals.

This year's theme "Riding out the Cycle - Challenges and Opportunities in Private Equity" reflects on private equity investing under some of the most difficult economic conditions in the past decade and will examine current challenges as well as important emerging opportunities in the industry. Recognizing that the private equity industry continues to evolve, this year's conference features new panels on investing strategies such as mezzanine and distressed debt. Today's conference will provide you with an opportunity to discussissues such as the outlook for deal flow, challenges in fundraising, structuring deals for maximum returns, managing portfolio companies through difficult markets, and building a career in private equity. We invite you to engage with those around you today and foster relationships that will build your knowledge of the private equity market.

As a student-run organization with over 320 members, the Wharton Private Equity Club is honored to have such a distinguished group of speakers at the conference. We would like to thank them for giving their time and sharing their insights with us. . We are also grateful to our sponsors whose generosity and support make the conference possible. Finally, we would like to acknowledge the enthusiasm and dedication of the entire Conference Committee.

We hope that you will enjoy this year's conference and we look forward to your continuing participation. Finally, we are always seeking the involvement of industry professionals in our ongoing speaker series and other educational events. If you have any interest in participating in these events, please feel free to contact us below.

Sincerely,