Welcome Address: Roger Aguinaldo, CEO, The M&A Advisor, LLC
9:00 – 9:45 am
Panel Discussion"Compass-Points: Wide Open Debt Markets
The State of the Capital Markets
How to Price and Value Leverage?
What Solutions Are Suitable for Middle-Market Companies?
Is the Timing Right to Innovate Credit Markets?
Moderator: Ray Kane, Director, Houlihan Lokey
Ira J. Kreft, Managing Director, NewStar Financial, Inc. Vince Colistra, Managing Director, Phoenix Capital Resources Bradley J. Charchut, Director, Dymas Capital Management Company, LLC
9:45 – 10:30 am
Panel Discussion: "Exit Strategy: Current Options to Optimizing Returns"
Various Options in a Tight Credit Market
The Best Time to Structure and Negotiate an Exit
Working with Private Equity Investors
Facilitating the Investment Document Process
Moderator: Mark Plaehn, Merrill Corp.
Ron Shah, Founder and Managing Partner, Jina Ventures
John Tilson, Managing Director & Principal,Brown Gibbons Lang & Co.
10:30 – 10:50 am
Networking Break in Sponsor Hall
10:50 – 11:35 am
Panel Discussion: "Finances that Match Growth Initiatives"
Growth Financing Solutions that Breed Success
Using PIPES and “Rights” Offerings
Minimizing Transaction Costs for Middle-Market Companies
Moderator: Tony Crosby, Merrill Corp. Kevin A. Pollack, Managing Director, Paragon Capital LP Nia Stefany, Managing Partner, Xnergy LLC
11:35 – 12:20 pm
Panel Discussion: "Mezzanine Financing Solutions" Current State of Subordinated Capital Market
Types of M&A Deals Best Suited for Mezzanine
Mezzanine's Advantages to Private Equity
Using Junior and Subordinated Structures to Close your Deal
Thomas H. Westbrook, Partner and Director of Mezzanine Fund, BB&T Capital Partners
Colin Cross, Managing Director, Crystal Capital James Cassano, General Partner, Jaguar Capital Partners Robert Horak, Managing Director,Lincoln International
12:30 – 2:00 pm
Luncheon Featured Speaker:
Dick Morris on the Race to the White House
An advisor in President Bill Clinton's administration, Mr. Morris will share his outlook about presidential candidates.
Mr. Morris frequently appears as a political commentator for Fox News Channel, is a columnist for New York Post and president of VOTE.com.
2:00 – 2:45 pm
Panel Discussion: "Financing Challenges for Private Equity Firms" Competing Against Strategic Buyers
Leverage Challenges for Middle-Market Private Equity Firms?
Can Private Equity Firms Re-invent their Financing Strategies?
Think like a CFO: Making $100 million Decisions even e Smarter Financing Decisions?
John Waller, Senior Vice President, Fort Dearborn Advisors, LLC Stephen Davis, Principal, Vista Equity Partners Ian Mackay, Senior Vice President, Raymond James
2:45 – 3:30 pm
Panel Discussion: "Distressed Assets and Re-financing Options"
How to Exploit Underperforming Assets to Source for Capital?
Is Bankruptcy a Strategic Tool to Restructure for Cash Flow?
Recapitlizing the Business
Sources of Capital for Distressed Deals
Conner Searcy, Partner, Insight Equity
David H. Lawrence, President, CM Holtzinger Fruit Co., LLC Geoffrey A. Richards, Co-Head, Special Situations and Restructuring, William Blair & Company
3:30 – 4:15 pm
Panel Discussion: "Investments: Deal Sourcing, Negotiation and Due Diligence"
How to prepare for due diligence to maximize total value
Best practices in valuing intangible assets like – management, intellectual property, etc.
Hidden Costs of Human Resources
Planning for Success During Due Dilgence
Moderator: Bob Strang, CEO, Investigative Management Group Steve Lewis, Private Equity Practice Leader, HRH Christian Zabbal, GH Smart Charles McCormick, Partner, McCormick and O'Brien LLP Ken Naglewski, Managing Director,Focus Management Group
4:30 pm
Conference Concludes
Annual Middle-Market Financing Awards Gala Sponsored By Merrill Corporation
