The Small Business Investor Alliance (SBIA) announced its 2014 Southern Private Equity Conference at the Four Season Hotel in Miami. Keynoted by journalist and FOX News commentator Tucker Carlson, this year’s event will provide an informed look at the freshest financial deal data, private investment environment, and an inside view at the Washington politics, regulatory and taxation issues that are impacting the lower middle market.

Following the update that SBIA President Brett Palmer will provide on the House of Representatives’ expected decisions on financial regulation and tax reform at the conference, GF Data Resources CEO Andy Greenberg will reveal the firm’s latest in-depth analysis on quarterly deal flow, M&A valuation and debt levels for private equity in the lower middle market.

Scheduled to take place February 26 to 27, the Southern Private Equity Conference brings together the senior visionaries of leading lower-middle market private equity investment firms, institutional investors and intermediaries to share knowledge, updates on best practices, and communicate about the most pressing issues impacting private capital investment, economic growth and job creation in the lower-middle market. Interactive panel sessions, coupled with breakout networking sessions led by seasoned dealmakers, enable the forum’s participants to speak freely about deals, legislation and the trends shaping equity investment and lending within the vital lower middle market segment of the U.S. economy.

“The Southern Private Equity Conference is one of several annual events that the SBIA organizes for our membership to stay abreast of the critical financial and regulatory developments that are impacting investment in our country’s lower middle market businesses,” said Brett Palmer, president of the SBIA. “We look forward to GF Data sharing their most up-to-date quarterly lower-middle market M&A data at this year’s event, which takes place in one of the most geographically important markets in today’s private capital industry. Our conference participants gather to share the latest insights on the top issues that are impacting the effectiveness of private equity investors, BDCs, SBICs and small cap lenders to invest in the growth of America’s lower middle market.”

Speakers at the 2014 Southern Private Equity Conference also include Curtis Hartman, chief credit officer and SBIA Southern regional chair; Joe Alala, chairman and CEO of Capitala Finance Corp.; Doug Camitta, Of Counsel at Pepper Hamilton; and Sam Anderson, VP at Goldman Sachs.

FOX and Friends Co-Host Tucker Carlson will analyze the Obama Administration’s second term, congressional gridlock and assess the future of the Republican Party.

Attendees can also participate in pre-conference networking one day prior to commencement of the conference on February 26, 2014 at the Crandon Golf Course located in Key Biscayne, where the course served as a former PGA Tour site.