The State of Agribusiness: Financing, Deal Making and Prospects for 2012

Please join market leaders in the agribusiness industry to discuss the current state of, and key trends in, agriculture, finance, M&A and international trade. We have presentations and panel discussions on the following topics:
Global Overview of Agricultural Commodities as an Asset Class

• Macroeconomic drivers for commodities, including growth prospects, currencies and interest rates
• Global demographics and the structural adjustments driving commodity values
• Agriculture's productivity challenge
• Supply/demand and price highlights

Presenter:
Bruce Scherr, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Informa Economics

Credit Markets

• How banks view the agribusiness sector
• Loan and pricing spreads
• Deal structures and leverage requirements
• Impact of the European credit crisis
• The 2012 lending outlook

Panelists will include:
Brian Klatt, Senior Vice President and Head of Capital Markets, CoBank
William Murray, Head of Commodity Finance Metals & Softs, BNP Paribas
Sebastien Ribatto, Managing Director, Energy and Natural Resources, Societe Generale
Erica Kuhlmann, Managing Director and Sector Head, Food & Beverage Group, BMO Capital Markets
John Weubbe, Senior Vice President and Industry Manager – Food and Agribusiness Industry Specialty Group, Wells Fargo & Company

Luncheon Presentation: International Trade

• Key global economic and political issues that smart firms will be watching at home and abroad
• How Brazil, Russia, India, China and other emerging economies are shaping global agriculture
• Emerging trends
• Leveraging and hedging against trends in international trade

Panelists will include:
Mickey Kantor, Former United States Secretary of Commerce and United States Trade Representative
Susan Schwab, Former United States Trade Representative

M&A Outlook, 2012 and Beyond

• What financial sponsors are looking for
• Lessons learned from recent M&A activity
• Current and emerging deal structures

Panelists will include:
Charles Adair, Vice Chairman, BMO Capital Markets
Kevin Schwartz, Partner, Paine & Partners
*Additional speakers still to be confirmed.

Issues Surrounding the 2012 Farm Bill

• The 2012 Farm Bill in a historical context
• Baseline spending and the impact of budget cuts
• Chairs' Proposal of Fall 2011 and alternative program proposals
• WTO implications

Presenter:
Joe Glauber, Chief Economist, US Department of Agriculture

A cocktail reception will immediately follow the presentation.

This event is complimentary.

Date & Time
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. CDT
Reception to follow

Location
Mayer Brown
71 South Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606

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For more information, or to receive future invitations and publications on the subject of Agribusiness, contact Michelle Grace at +1 312 701 7094 or mgrace@mayerbrown.com.