Is Private Equity for public benefit?

In anticipation of the publication of the Walker Report proposed guidelines on 20 November, the Industry and Parliament Trust (IPT) brought together leading figures from private equity with a number of parliamentarians on 17 October 2007 to discuss whether the industry is for public benefit.

The aim of the discussion was to debate some of the issues surrounding the industry and to enhance knowledge and understanding on both sides in response to the increased coverage and scrutiny the private equity industry has been subject to this year.

The panel consisted of:

• Guest Chair, Gillian Tett, Assistant Editor, Financial Times
• Jeremy Hand, Vice-Chairman, British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (BVCA) and Managing Partner, Lyceum Capital
• Peter Taylor, Managing Partner, Duke Street Capital
• Peter Viggers MP, Conservative member for Gosport, member of the Treasury Select Committee