2. June 2017 Öpiku Conference Center (Valukoja 8, Tallinn)

Purpose of this International and distinguished seminar is to provide participants an overview of financing alternatives for SME’s and show markets’ current legal restrictions and opportunities in Estonia. Our aim is to compare Estonian capital markets ecosystem not only to Baltic countries but also to more established Finnish market. We also show regulatory issues and potential that could help the Estonian capital markets vis-a-vis to Latvia and Lithuania.

For members of FinanceEstonia attendance to the seminar is free of charge, non-members participation fee is 35€. Working language of the seminar is English.

Register here

09:30–10:00 Gathering

10:00–10:05 Welcome words

10:05–10:30 “Overview of government initiatives to improve capital markets financing for SMEs”

10:30–11:00 “How are the capital markets developed in other countries and have Estonia missed the train?”

11:00–12:00 Panel discussion: “Main financing sources and alternatives in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Finland”

12:00–12:50 Panel discussion: “Regulatory arbitrage in the Baltic markets – is Estonia still in the game?”

12:50–13:00 Final words

13:00–14:00 Networking at restaurant JUUR

SPEAKERS:

Sven Sester

Sven Sester has been Minister of Finance of the Republic of Estonia since 9 April 2015. He is a member of Pro Patria and Res Publica Union (IRL). In 2009-2015, Sester was a member of XI and XII Riigikogu, Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Finance Committee and a member of the Economic Affairs Committee. He was Director and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Roosikrantsi Hotell Ltd from 2007-2015 and Director, Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Baltic Real Investments (former ERI Real Estate Ltd) from 1993-2015. In 2003-2005, he was Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Eesti Loto. In 2002-2003, he was a member of Tallinn City Council. Sven Sester has also worked as the Director of ERI Real Estate Ltd, Commercial Director of Eries Ltd, Sales Manager and Manager of Selected Daily Mail Joint Enterprise and a data processing specialist and coordinator of data processing in the Mainor Centre for Public Opinion Research (later EMOR).

André Küüsvek

André Küüsvek has been the Director for Local Currency and Capital Markets Development since late 2012. His earlier career with the EBRD includes being a Country Director in Ukraine in 2008-2013 and in Kazakhstan in 2004-2008. Before this, André led project teams investing equity and debt in financial institutions across Central and Eastern Europe and the CIS from 1996-2004. At that time he was also the EBRD’s bank-wide coordinator for capital markets and stock exchanges, as well as the financial sector coordinator for several countries.

André started his banking career as one of the first commercial bankers in Estonia, heading the international departments of Commercial Bank of Tartu and Bank of Tallinn in the early 1990s. He then moved to Germany, working for a private bank Schröder Münchmeyer Hengst, and for Dresdner Bank until being hired by EBRD in 1996. André has served on the boards of over 30 banks, insurance companies, equity funds and enterprises.

Ivars Bergmanis

Ivars Bergmanis has more than 20 years of global financial market experience. After working for four years on the buy side in Australia with Colonial Mutual Investment Management, he has spent the rest of his time on the sell side. This included seven years in London with HSBC Investment Bank, where he was the global coordinator for natural resources research and part of an Institutional Investor research award-winning team.

Since 2004 he has focused on the Baltics and has participated directly in almost every significant Baltics-related IPO/ECM transaction as a senior team member of SEB Enskilda (2007-2008) and Suprema Securities /Evli (2004-2006). He became the Head of Institutional Markets at LHV after the bank’s merger with the Baltic region’s leading institutional research provider, Emerging Nordic Research (a venture between himself and the three NASDAQ OMX Baltic Exchanges).

Mika Karikoski

Mika Karikoski works as ECM Finland at Carnegie Investment Bank AB Finland Branch since 2015. His previous working experience:

2014-2015 – Head of ECM and Tactical Sales, UB Securities, Helsinki

2013-2014 – Head of Tactical Sales, UB Securities, Helsinki

2012 – Director, deriPartners Capital Management S.a.r.l, Luxembourg

2007-2011 – Head of Trading Finland, Carnegie Investment Bank AB, Finland Branch, Helsinki

2003-2006 – Head of Trading Sweden and Finland, Equities Division, Nordea Markets, Stockholm

1999-2003 – Senior Trader, Aros Securities/Nordea Securities, Stockholm

1996-1999 – Senior Trader, Alfred Berg Finland, Helsinki

1995-1996 – Trader, SBC Warburg, Stockholm

1994-1995 – Trader, Kansallis-Osake-Pankki/Merita Securites, Helsinki

Aurelijus Rimkus

Aurelijus Rimkus is a partner at Orion Securities, focusing on investment banking and M&A advisory. In 2006-2010 Aurelijus was a director of UAB “Asmeniniai finansų konsultantai”, focusing on consulting and investments in Lithuania, Belorussia, Russia, Kirgizia. In 2003-2005 he was director of AB “Vilmakas” and chairman of the board at AB “Jūrės medis”. In 1998-2003 he was broker at AB FMĮ “Finasta” and in 1993-1998 director and founder at FMĮ “Mifonda”.

Monika Tooming-Varblane

Before joining Funderbeam as their Head of Operations, Monika spent 12 years working for LHV bank. During this time, she became an expert on the various nuances of issuing IPOs and has participated in several ECM transactions in Baltics. Monika’s experience in this field provides her with both the insight into the current state of capital markets as well as where improvements/innovations can and should be made.

Peeter Saks

Peeter Saks is the Managing Partner of BaltCap and Member of the Management Board of FinanceEstonia. BaltCap is the leading private equity firm focusing on mid-market buyout and expansion capital investments in the Baltic States. BaltCap has strong presence in all three Baltic countries with local offices and experienced team of 20 investment professionals. Peeter’s past positions include CEO of the Baltic investment bank Suprema Securities, Chairman of Tallinn Stock Exchange and Manager at Price Waterhouse.

Aare Tammemäe

Aare Tammemäe has extensive banking, real-estate, and finance background from various top-ranked companies since 1992. After his MBA studies in Bentley Graduate School of Business in the US and career in Talinvest Suprema Securities, Aare served as the CEO in the State Compensation Fund. In 2001 Aare continued his career in the industrial sector becoming a CFO in the Port of Tallinn. Aare then joined banking to become the Head of Corporate Banking of Nordea Bank Estonia. After performance in banking, Aare joined one of the largest real-estate companies in the Baltics Arco Vara, where he served as a CFO and CEO before accepting new challenge in Redgate Capital.

Märten Ross

Märten Ross has previously worked in the Bank of Estonia as a Head of Policy Department, and a Member of Executive Board. From 2000-2011 he worked in the Bank of Estonia as a Deputy Governor and a Member of Monetary Policy Committee. In 2011 joined the Bank of Finland as an adviser. In 2013 he became the Deputy Secretary General for Financial Policy and External Relations in the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Estonia. Märten has also served as a member of the Board of the Estonian Guarantee Fund, and the National Statistics Council.

Jekaterina Govina

From October 2016 Jekaterina is Counsellor to Board Member of the Bank of Lithuania Marius Jurgilas and helps Marius Jurgilas to develop policy on financial technology industry in Lithuania. Until 2016 Jekaterina worked as a lawyer in various divisions of the Bank of Lithuania (financial services supervision; licensing) and gained experience in payments, insurance, consumer credit, peer-to-peer lending, crowdfunding. In 2017 Jekaterina has been awarded as a Public Sector Lawyer of the Year 2016 for developing the concept of the crowdfunding regulation in Lithuania and preparing the Draft Law on Crowdfunding. The Law was adopted by Parliament in November 2016.

Janis Dubrovskis

Jānis has worked in the banking industry for more than 13 years, and is a prize-winning expert in corporate finance and capital origination. He has arranged large issues of bonds in the Baltics, Azerbaijan, and Bulgaria. Jānis has a Master’s degree in economics from the University of Latvia and the CFA Institute’s certificate in financial analysis.

Reimo Hammerberg

Reimo Hammerberg, partner and head of Banking & Finance Team at Sorainen Estonia, is the country’s top expert on financial law. Reimo has advised a large number of international companies in landmark transactions, helping to expand or restructure their business, and has also played a crucial role in the impressive growth of many Estonian enterprises. Also, Reimo possesses unique know-how in market abuse issues and other complex financial disputes and has advised on all serious market manipulation disputes in Estonia. He also regularly advises issuers of structured notes/bonds and providers of financial and insurance services.

Reimo is a Certified Adviser on the alternative marketplace First North in the Baltic States, while Sorainen is one of the three law firms meeting the requirements for this status. He is also a member of the supervisory board of SmartCap, an investment arm of the Estonian Development Fund managing early stage venture capital funds, which is the main player on the Estonian venture capital scene. Reimo is also a board member of FinanceEstonia. In addition, he is an active member of the Estonian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association.