Barcelona, IMAP Florida (Falls River Group) spoke at the Family Office Forum IvyFON in Naples.  Rob Van Genderen, IMAP Florida’s Head of Energy Practice formed part of a prestigious panel discussing the Energy Outlook for 2016 and implications for M&A activity.

IvyFon is the pre-eminent peer to peer network for institutional investors, world class family offices, family businesses and global/emerging funds, boasting the best ratios in the industry of buy-side to sell-side participants.  It’s a Who’s Who of select leading thinkers, convening to share views and opinions on investment strategies, market dynamics and opportunities.

Mr. Van Genderen’s insights, outlining what is expected to be a dynamic year for the oil & gas sector, were extremely well received.  Oil price will remain the key driver for change he explained and though increased Saudi production and the lifting of Iranian sanctions will continue to put pressure on the oil price, current oil price levels are unsustainable over the long-term.  As demand continues to edge up and supply is curtailed, the oil price is expected to gain more solid footing in the latter half of 2016.

The US oil & gas sector Mr. Van Genderen concluded, has been significantly impacted.  As middle-market upstream and oil field service companies struggle with liquidity and capital requirements, M&A activity and restructurings are expected to increase significantly in 2016.

Marty Secada, Managing Director, Ivy Fon said “The Ivy Family Office Network had a successful family office forum in Naples, FL.  Due to Mr. Van Genderen’s expert guidance, our family office group was able to review the present investment environment in Oil and Gas ranging from price expectation to distressed opportunities”.

Forum Moderator, Jeff Gargiulo, said “Rob was clearly the expert in the room who understands energy markets from a deeper, global basis. His experience allows him to comprehend oil and gas on another level”.