Mergermarket M&A Forum - Chicago 2022
The must-attend event for the M&A community in the US!
Convene 311 West Monroe, Chicago
Agenda
Registration and breakfast
Opening panel: Dealmakers outlook
North American M&A continued its downward slide in the second quarter as the Federal Reserve’s rate hikes to curb inflation and the rising prospect of recession kept dealmakers on the sidelines. But despite that there were still more than 2,000 transactions worth USD 500.6bn inked in those three months. Private equity has plenty of dry-powder, and many strategics have built strong balance-sheets, promising fascinating battles for the new wave of opportunities that lie ahead. Our panel of leading dealmakers will discuss the current trends, top transactions, and deal flow in the year ahead.
- Will the changing macro environment halt the M&A market or open up new opportunities?
- What are the current trends in North American M&A, and where are the deals coming from?
- Which are the next big sectors, and how should investors approach these opportunities?
- Who will win the next phase of the perennial battle between corporate and financial acquirers?
Coffee Break
Panel: Integrating ESG into the dealmaking process
The importance of ESG in the M&A market has continued to grow in 2022, from ESG-driven deal flow to increased due-diligence on everyday transactions. That growth is expected to continue for the rest of the year as more regional businesses understand the long-term value creation proposition it offers, leading to divestments and spin-offs of assets that fail to meet investor scrutiny, and acquisitions of assets that serve as solutions for ESG matters. Our panel of ESG experts will offer their insights into an area of the M&A landscape which is no longer a “nice to have” but rather, a business imperative.
- How will ESG considerations continue to drive deal flow in the upcoming year?
- How can M&A help corporates achieve their ESG targets?
- How can businesses ensure that they are prepared for the increasing role of ESG issues in M&A due diligence?
- E, S or G? After a decade dominated by environmental concerns will geo-political events change the focus to social and governance issues?
Panel: Cross-border M&A in a more insular world
Just when international dealmakers thought the worst of COVID-19 was behind them a new raft of geopolitical issues has risen up. How should investors respond to the new wave of security concerns and nationalism? Our panel of cross-border experts will look at both inbound and outbound across the world.
- Which regions and sectors are seeing the most cross-border activity?
- As COVID-19 fades will we be going back to normal practice or are virtual deals here to stay?
- How should investors respond to new political tensions in Europe?
- Will growing security concerns mean the end for Chinese activity, whether inbound or outbound?
Lunch
Panel: How M&A can drive digitization strategies
From the largest corporates to the heart of the middle-market technology deals continue to dominate deal-flow in 2022. But digitization is critical strategic goal for companies far beyond the traditional technology sector. Our panel of top strategists will discuss both how corporates can use M&A to solve their technological needs, and the potential pitfalls of using such a strategy.
- Is every deal a technology deal now?
- How should non-technology companies approach acquisitions in the technology sector?
- What needs to be done to make such deals truly transformational?
- What are some of the hurdles to integrating acquisitions with a technology focus?
Panel: Price discovery in an uncertain age
With volatility growing across all financial markets, the gap between the expectations of buyers and sellers is growing as well. Our panel of experts will explore the current balance of power, and how reality is meeting up with expectations.
- What are the current market dynamics, and how will they change over the next 12 months?
- What the biggest challenges in valuations in a period of uncertainty like this one?
- Do COVID-19 adjustments to financial results still need to applied to future cashflows?
- What price-discovery tools are available to the market?
Coffee Break
Panel: Opportunities and challenges in distressed M&A
As the US economy falters the first wave of restructurings is hitting the market, with US bankruptcies jumping 50% from May to June. As distress continues to impact the market what are the opportunities that presents for nimble buyers? Our panel of leading advisors will discuss the current trends, operational challenges and deal flow for the distressed market.
- What sectors will see the most distress over the next 12 months?
- Which of those sectors represent the best opportunities for generating long-term value, and which are traps?
- What are the operational and legal challenges in distressed M&A vs performing M&A?
- Is this only a play for financial sponsors or are their opportunities for corporates as well?
Panel: PE perspectives
The Fed’s higher-than-expected rate hikes combined with continuing uncertainty in the markets have left private equity firms extra cautious, and leveraged buyout activity dropped 53% to USD 50bn in 2Q22 compared with the same quarter a year ago. But the fall in stock market prices - the S&P 500 is down by nearly 22% and the NASDAQ by 31% - is also creating an opportunity for financial sponsors to buy assets at a discount. Our panel of leading private equity managers share their views on which trend will dominate in this uncertain market.
- What is the outlook for the rest of the year, including potential challenges?
- Where are GPs finding the best opportunities?
- What are the benefits of partnering with private equity in an M&A transaction?
- What does a post-recession value creation plan look like from a private equity perspective?
Closing remarks
Cocktails
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Rachel covers fintech and the broader tech sector for Mergermarket. She has a bachelor’s degree in business journalism from Washington and Lee University.
Ryan covers technology, media and chemicals M&A for Mergermarket and Dealreporter.
Ryan covers technology, media and chemicals M&A for Mergermarket and Dealreporter.
Cary Kochman is Co-Head of Citi’s Global Mergers & Acquisitions Group and serves as the Chairman of the Chicago Office. He is also a member of the Global BCMA Operating Committee. Banking, Capital Markets and Advisory (BCMA) encompasses all corporate and investment banking activities including: coverage, lending, capital raising (debt and equity) and M&A. He has 30+ years of investment banking experience. Prior to joining Citigroup in 2011, Cary was Global Head of M&A for UBS and Co-Head of the Midwest Region. Prior to joining UBS in 2004, Cary served as the Head of the U.S. M&A Department for Credit Suisse.
He holds both his J.D. and M.B.A. from the University of Chicago. While at the University of Chicago, Cary attended the London Business School and undertook a Nikko Fellowship for study in Tokyo. He is a graduate of the Honors College at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Cary is a member of the Illinois Bar and has completed both the C.P.A. and C.M.A. examinations. In the past, he has served as an advisory board member (Chicago Booth Council) at the University of Chicago Booth School and as an advisory board member to the University of Chicago Law School. He has also served as a Trustee of CENSA (Council for Emerging National Security Affairs).
Cary Kochman specializes in advising on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, corporate takeovers and hostile and activist defense. He has completed transactions with an aggregate value in excess of $1 trillion.
Amy Hauke is a consultant focusing on investment and marketing engagements within the alternative assets space. Amy recently served as a consultant to Ares Management focusing on product management for their private wealth product. Previously Amy served as a Director at the BMO Wealth Management focused on high net worth and family office advisory. Amy spent ten years as a private markets institutional investment consultant and researcher focused on fund due diligence at Aon Investment Consulting. At Aon, Amy advised endowments, foundations, pension funds, and sovereign wealth funds on private markets portfolio construction and global fund selection. Prior to joining Aon, Amy was a private equity analyst at McKinsey & Company, providing limited partner and private equity firm clients with in-depth private equity research and analysis.
Reshmi covers distressed and restructuring situations. She has a master’s degree from Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism as well as an MPP from the University of Chicago, and a bachelor’s degree from Bryn Mawr College.
Ms. Cornelis is a Partner and Chief Operating Officer at LaSalle Capital, a leading lower middle market buyout fund, and has been with the firm since 2005. Kelly is responsible for deal sourcing and execution, financial operations, portfolio management and investor relations. Previously she led investment activities at SB Partners and began her career as an analyst at William Blair. Kelly was a founding member of the Chicago Women in Private Equity, is a member of WAVE and PE WIN (Private Equity Women's Investor Network) and served as a board member of MBBI (Midwest Business Brokers and Intermediaries) and ACG Chicago.
Kelly currently serves on the Board of Directors of Fresh Origins, Joseph’s Gourmet Pasta, BOF Corporation and Westminster Foods, and previously served on the boards of United American Security and Gen3 Marketing. She was named one of mid-market M&A’s “Most Influential Women” by Mergers & Acquisitions magazine in 2018.
A Moline, Illinois, native, Kelly holds a BBA from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Kelly lives in Elmhurst with her husband Ryan, son Connor and daughter Mara.
LaSalle Capital is a leading private equity firm with experience in the lower middle market, managing over $500 million in capital across several investment funds. LaSalle has a proven track record of partnering with management teams to increase value in our companies by providing a strategic operating focus and driving growth organically and through acquisitions. We have domain expertise and investment focus in the food and beverage ecosystem.
Nicole Islinger focuses her practice on mergers and acquisitions and other complex commercial transactions, including technology and government contracts and general business law.Nicole is an experienced mergers and acquisitions attorney with extensive experience in the government contracting and technology industries. She frequently acts as general counsel to clients with either no or limited internal legal resources, providing advice for all aspects of the business from startup and growth strategies through transition services to steady-state contracting.
Nicole previously held in-house positions with two large international corporations. At Hewlett Packard Enterprise, she managed an international team of attorneys working on complex technology and outsourcing matters in government, health care and commercial sectors. Nicole also served as senior counsel at BASF Corporation, where she represented all aspects of an international business unit drafting distribution and vendor agreements, supply and customer contracts, and various other commercial contracting arrangements. Prior to going in-house, Nicole practiced at Pillsbury for almost 10 years, where she focused on mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital financings.
Kelly Guyton is Ramboll’s ESG Lead in the Americas and has nearly 20 years of experience in environmental and ESG consulting, with an emphasis on merger and acquisition due diligence. She leads teams in the conduct of ESG due diligence reviews, helping clients identify ESG-related risks and value creation opportunities in line with global best practices and ESG management frameworks. She also helps private equity clients develop a strategic and tailored approach to ESG management within their own firm and related to their portfolio companies to identify strategic opportunities, including through the drafting of policies, creation and implementation of assessment and monitoring tools, and identification and use of material key performance indicators (KPIs). Ms. Guyton also has deep experience in the provision of environmental due diligence assessments of industrial, commercial, and institutional assets, environmental compliance assessments and assistance, energy auditing, soil and ground water sampling, and air sampling.
Kelly has a degree in environmental engineering from Virginia Tech and masters degrees from MIT in Technology & Policy and Urban Studies & Planning.
Casey Nault
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Chief ESG Officer
Mr. Nault has approximately 25 years of experience as a corporate and securities lawyer, including prior in-house positions with Starbucks Corporation and Washington Mutual, Inc. and law firm experience with Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. His legal experience includes securities compliance and SEC reporting, corporate governance and compliance, mergers and acquisitions, public and private securities offerings and other strategic transactions, general regulatory compliance, cross-border issues, land use and environmental issues, and overseeing complex litigation. In addition to leading the legal function, since 2018 Mr. Nault has overseen the Company’s ESG initiatives, and he also has executive responsibility for several other corporate functions including compliance, internal audit, cybersecurity and IT infrastructure, government affairs and land management. Mr. Nault has a B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Washington and a law degree from the University of Southern California Law School.
Tad Nedeau is a Managing Director of Lincolnshire and is on the Origination Team. Tad is based in Chicago. Tad works to continually enhance Lincolnshire’s business development relationships, built over 30 years, with a wide variety of intermediaries. He works closely with Lincolnshire professionals, many of which have expertise and experience across a wide variety of industries, to find the most suitable acquisition opportunities. Tad has appreciated the Lincolnshire culture that encourages open communication and input on potential deals from not only the Investment Committee, but from all Lincolnshire professionals who come from a variety of cultural backgrounds, and have a comprehensive level of expertise in a number of different industries. The entire team consistently shares their relevant experience and best practices to support the origination effort and find the best possible investments. Prior to joining Lincolnshire in 2017, Tad was National Account Manager for Smithfield Foods. While at Smithfield, Tad was responsible for managing Smithfield’s consumer packaged good sales to both Walmart and Sam’s Club.
Tad holds a BA from Miami University (Ohio). Tad is an avid fisherman and can be found most weekends fishing out on Lake Michigan or in Wrigleyville rooting on his favorite hometown team, the Cubs.
Katie Trela is a Director of M&A at Crowley Maritime. Crowley is a 3rd generation family-owned and operated logistics, government, marine, and energy solutions company headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. As part of her current role, Katie splits her time between investment opportunity origination and execution as part of Crowley Ventures, the investment team within Crowley focused on both full acquisitions and venture investments across all business units.
Prior to Crowley, Katie led the FP&A function within Uber’s Freight division, overseeing monthly and quarterly close activities and assisting with the financial integration of Transplace, the transportation and logistics company acquired by Uber Freight in November 2021. Katie also managed relationships with and reporting requirements for financial investors as part of ongoing cash management and fundraising activities.
Katie joined Uber after 4 years of sell-side M&A advisory experience as a Director at Kroll (formerly Duff & Phelps). She focused on lower middle market, family-owned businesses primarily across the Industrials, Technology, and Business Services verticals. Deals closed ranged from the sale of a grocery store shelving manufacturer to the carveout of the technology assets of a non-profit professional services organization to the sale of a pet insurance company.
Katie graduated from the University of Chicago with a BA in Economics in 2013. She returned to the University of Chicago Booth School of Business for her MBA in Finance, Economics, and Strategic Management, graduating in 2017.
Ryan covers technology, media and chemicals M&A for Mergermarket and Dealreporter.
Derek Beaty believes in the power of capital and human ingenuity to address climate change and to support a long-term transition to cleaner energy. He is the Founder of Kapok Partners, a private investment and advisory firm passionate about partnering with management teams, entrepreneurs, and capital providers to build profitable, sustainable growth businesses.
Derek has a 20+ year career in M&A, private equity, and strategic investments and has developed deep sector expertise in energy efficiency, environmental services, cleaner energy, industrial services, and technology-enabled logistics. He has invested globally and has served on the corporate or advisory boards of businesses in the US, Brazil, Peru, Mexico, Turkey, and China.
Prior to Kapok Partners, Derek was Head of Strategic Investments and Director of Corporate Development at Caterpillar, Inc. Prior to Caterpillar, Derek spent 11 years with pioneer private equity impact investor Global Environment Fund and its successor company GEF Capital in both Washington, DC, and in São Paulo, Brazil. He started his PE career at CIVC Partners and developed M&A advisory skills at BMO Capital, Arthur Andersen, and Merrill Lynch.
Derek graduated with an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and has a B.A. in Accountancy from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is a CPA (inactive) and lives in the Lake View neighborhood of Chicago with his wife and two daughters.
Brian Crannell is senior vice president, corporate development, responsible for developing and driving Knowles’ strategic growth plans and merger and acquisition activities. His track record in developing growth strategies, executing acquisitions, and implementing product and technology initiatives are key enablers to Knowles’ growth goals.
Prior to his current role, Brian led the marketing and business development activities for Knowles’ Specialty Components – Acoustics and Hearing Health business units for four years. He successfully implemented growth strategies for MEMS in hearing health and performance audio segments, respectively, which continue to deliver strong results.
Before joining Knowles, Brian was with Littelfuse, Inc. from 1997 to 2011. He held corporate development, financial planning, marketing and product management roles, and resided for a period in China with his family. He successfully completed acquisitions in China, Taiwan, Germany, Canada and the US. Prior to Littlefuse, Brian held design engineering and product management roles at Masco Corporation.
Brian received his Juris Doctor law degree from Loyola University, Chicago, and Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Dayton in Ohio. He holds a legal license in Illinois, and is registered with the USPTO as a patent attorney.
Brian and his family live in the Chicago area. He is a former board member of the Association for Corporate Growth, where he continues to be active, and donates his time to multiple community organizations.
Kevin R. O’Connor is General Counsel, Asia Pacific and Senior Counsel – M&A at Navistar, Inc. He has been practicing M&A law for over twenty years (11 years at Navistar and 11 years at Caterpillar): acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures. He was an expatriate lawyer with Caterpillar in Beijing, China from 2002-2009, and with Navistar in Shanghai, China from 2011-2015. He has been fluent in Chinese Mandarin for 33 years. Kevin lives in Hyde Park with his wife and 8 year old son.
Mr. Jason Zhao is the founding head of China Post Life Insurance’s Private Equity investment team. Jason also advises and/or manages several FoF such as CGF Capital and National Development and Reform Committee’s New Industry Development Funds. Mr. Zhao is co-founder and Chairman of Cybernaut Growth Fund L.P. (CGF) focusing on direct investments in the Technology and Services sectors, especially in cross border investments and bridging western management and market resources with Chinese managers. Jason is also co-founder and Chairman of wealth management company Lanman Financial serving more than 20,000 high net-worth clients.
In the past decade, Jason invested over $0.5 BN in VC, buyout, credit, hedge funds, credit funds, and secondary funds. Jason also directly invested close to $1BN to close to 50 companies since 2007. He is experienced in multiple public market exits and trade sales, such as FPI（SZ：300203), SVG（SH, 600857), LianLian Pay（Sold to AMEX), Spreadtrum (Nasdaq: SPRD), Focal Tech (TSE:5280), Sinopec Sales, etc.
Previously, Jason spent 15 years in technology and consumer services industries in US and China, many in senior management positions with Fortune 500 enterprises, such as Sinopec, Motorola, Marconi, and Spirent, in functions ranging from engineering to supply chain management and product management.
Mr. Zhao holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth Graduate School, an MSME from North Carolina A&T State University, and a BSChE from Tianjin University.
Rachel covers fintech and the broader tech sector for Mergermarket. She has a bachelor’s degree in business journalism from Washington and Lee University.
Andy guides private equity clients through all stages of the M&A lifecycle, assessing potential acquisition targets, leading cross-functional separation and integration management offices, and leading initiatives to identify and deliver value within individual portfolios.
Through extensive project experience across a variety of industries, Andy has honed deep skills in IT and operations due diligence and synergy modeling, operating model design, ERP implementation, and integration and separation execution.
A 2019 recipient of the M&A Advisory Emerging Leaders award, Andy provides skillful mentorship to our Minneapolis M&A team, as well as our Merger and Integration Center of Excellence.
Andy joined West Monroe from Deloitte Consulting. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master’s degree from the University of Michigan.
What makes Andy different
Outside of work, Andy is a devoted husband and father. His free time pursuits include watching college football and exploring Minneapolis’ diverse restaurants and running trails. Always creative and resourceful, Andy once saved the lives of four boaters on the Mississippi River using only a steak knife.
Where Andy makes an impact
Andy’s relentless focus on value creation helps him achieve tangible client wins. He led technology integration for a 160,000-person security services company, capturing $5 million in annual synergies. Through the merger of two digital education publishers, Andy identified $65 million in annual synergies.
Eric Kim is a Principal at VSS where he is responsible for sourcing and evaluating investment opportunities, as well as providing strategic and operational support to portfolio companies. He brings extensive knowledge and investment experience in healthcare & tech, focusing on the smaller end. Previously, Eric was a Managing Director at Optum leading teams in identifying, developing, and launching new products across Optum’s businesses. Prior to Optum, Eric was an investor focused on healthcare at New Leaf Venture Partners and Francisco Partners. Eric started his career as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company. He graduated with a dual B.A. in Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences and Economics from Northwestern University.
Eric has presented and spoken at various Oliver Wyman events, at industry groups including the Asian/Korean-American Investors group (AAIG), and on panels hosted by Georgetown University discussing healthcare services/tech, the investment landscape and trends, and topical themes of interest to entrepreneurs.
Cici Zheng is a Partner at ParkerGale Capital. She is responsible for working with portfolio companies on their growth strategies by developing and implementing programs that amplify go-to-market approaches, product positioning and financial results. Prior to joining ParkerGale, Cici worked at Bain & Company as a Case Team Leader advising clients across multiple industries on a variety of engagements including private equity due diligence, customer strategy, marketing, and merger integrations. Before joining Bain, Cici was an Associate at HealthCare Royalty Partners as well as an Analyst at UBS where she was a part of the healthcare investment banking team. Cici holds a BA in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Rachel covers fintech and the broader tech sector for Mergermarket. She has a bachelor’s degree in business journalism from Washington and Lee University.
Mr. Dresner founded Dresner Partners in 1991 to provide Wall Street investment banking services to middle market businesses. His distinguished corporate finance career spans nearly 30 years, including mergers, acquisitions, debt and equity financing, restructuring and turnarounds, recapitalizations and international transactions. In addition to his transactional experience, Mr. Dresner has led numerous valuation, fairness opinion and strategic financial consulting engagements. He has worked extensively in several industries including healthcare, business services, building products, textiles, industrial manufacturing, retail and media.Prior to founding Dresner Partners, Mr. Dresner held management positions with First Chicago Corporation (JP Morgan Chase), Arthur Andersen (corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions practices), Heller Financial and GE Capital Corporation.
A community leader, Mr. Dresner serves on the Board of Directors of the Chicago Association for Corporate Growth, the Michael Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Chicago, North Shore Congregation Israel, RTC Corporate Board, and The Entrepreneurship Institute. He has also served on the Ravinia annual fund committee and is a member of The Economic Club of Chicago.
Education
M.B.A. Finance, University of Chicago Graduate School of Business
B.S. Economics, with Honors, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
Alex joined Periscope in 2018 and is a Principal. He leads business development and is responsible for the firm’s deal sourcing effort across business owners, executives and deal intermediaries as well as other relationships tied to Periscope’s origination strategy.
Prior to joining Periscope Equity, Alex was a Vice President of business development at a lower middle market private investment firm. Previously, Alex was a Vice President at Gibraltar Business Capital, where he focused on sponsor-backed, private credit origination. Earlier in his career, Alex was an Assistant Vice President at PNC Capital Markets in its financial services, advisory and banking practice, where he covered insurance companies.
Alex received a BBA in finance, investment and banking from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.
Erik Levy is the Group head, Corp Dev and M&A at DMGT plc. Erik is a highly experienced Corporate Development Executive with deep experience building and leading best in class, Fortune 1000 acquisition/investment and portfolio strategy. Erik has completed over 150 acquisitions, minority and venture investments and strategic partnerships.
Michael Gray is head of Neal Gerber Eisenberg’s Private Equity, Venture Capital and Growth Company practice. He concentrates his practice in private equity, venture capital, hedge funds, fund formations, mergers and acquisitions, and intellectual property. He represents investors, companies, and executives in private equity and venture capital transactions; mergers, acquisitions and restructurings; executive compensation; general contract and intellectual property agreements and the structuring of partnerships, corporations and limited liability companies. He also has extensive experience advising investors in funds and advising funds on their formation and compliance needs (both on-shore and off-shore). His clients include private equity and venture firms, asset management firms, hedge funds, family offices, publicly traded companies, institutions, entrepreneurs and middle market businesses. Prior to joining private practice, Michael was an investor where he sourced, evaluated and closed private equity and venture capital transactions. He also was responsible for mentoring and monitoring management teams at the board and operating levels. Michael leverages this investment experience to advise clients on strategic, financial, management and operational issues.
Reshmi covers distressed and restructuring situations. She has a master’s degree from Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism as well as an MPP from the University of Chicago, and a bachelor’s degree from Bryn Mawr College.
Chris Dickerson is a partner in the Firm's Financial Restructuring group and a member of the Special Situations Group. His practice includes the representation of a variety of clients in complex business reorganizations, debt restructurings, and insolvency matters, including purchasers of and investors in distressed companies and lenders to and creditors of such companies and other special situations.
Mr. Dickerson has assisted numerous large corporations both inside and outside chapter 11, including Ameriserve, Antioch Holdings, Atlas Energy, Babcock & Wilcox, Blackjewel L.L.C., Caesars Entertainment, Circuit City Stores, CIT Group, Diamond Brands, Delphi Automotive, Inc., Edison Mission Energy, Inc., Extreme Plastics Plus, Goss Graphics, Global Cloud Xchange, Harnischfeger, HomePlace Stores, Jitney Jungle Stores, One Aviation Corporation, Orius, Refco, US Airways, and Vanguard Natural Resources
He has also assisted numerous investors in and acquirers of distressed assets including Angelo Gordon, Black Diamond Capital Management, Deerfield Capital Management, HIG Capital, Hilco Global, Macquarie Capital, Madison Industries, Silverpoint Capital, Victory Park Capital Advisors, and Versa Capital Management. Mr. Dickerson also often assists both institutional and alternative lenders in workouts and other situations including Bank of America, BMO Harris, BNP Paribas, Citibank, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, Monroe Capital, THL Credit, and Wells Fargo.
RECOGNITIONS
- The Legal 500, Finance - Restructuring: Corporate (2021)
- The Deal magazine, Regularly listed as one of the Top Bankruptcy M&A Lawyers
- Named in Chambers USA, where sources have described him as a "very creative, very aggressive and [a] very smart bankruptcy person," whose "creativity and approach and overall client service are most impressive." Chambers also noted his "particular expertise in acting for secured lenders in the acquisition of distressed assets." Commentators have found him "very professional and knowledgeable, and [he] has good scope and appreciation of what needs to get done."
- Named in The Best Lawyers in America
- The Legal 500 United States recognized him as "commercially savvy and very strategic."
EDUCATION
- University of Wisconsin Law School, J.D. (cum laude, Order of the Coif)
- Georgetown University, M.A., National Security Studies
- United States Naval Academy, B.S.
Military Service Following graduation from the United States Naval Academy, Chris was a naval flight officer in the US Navy for 11 years, assigned to Fighter Squadrons 101, 142 and 124.
Peter Kaufman is President and heads the firm’s Restructuring and Distressed M&A practice. He is also Co-founder and Managing Partner of Bacchus Capital Management, a private equity fund providing strategic capital in the wine industry.
He is the co-author of the definitive works in the field, Distressed Investment Banking: To the Abyss and Back – 2nd Edition and Equity Holders Under Siege: Strategies and Tactics for Distressed Businesses. He has been ranked the #1 national investment banker in financial restructurings by The Deal and is frequently asked by national TV networks and other media outlets to speak on restructuring and bankruptcy topics.
Mr. Kaufman has long history advising banking and insurance institution regulators, state governments and federal agencies over Gordian’s more than 30 years as a firm. Gordian Group has had over 300 engagements on behalf of companies, boards of directors, and shareholders (including entrepreneurs and private equity firms).
Mr. Kaufman received a B.A. with honors in History and Art History from Yale College (where he lettered in lacrosse), and a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he graduated in the top quarter of his class.
Mr. Kaufman currently serves as an Adjunct Faculty/Lecturer at the University of Virginia School of Law teaching a course entitled “Advising Boards of Directors Under Siege”; he also assists in teaching courses at Darden Business School at University of Virginia.
Matthew Wiener is a co-practice leader for Aon’s Transaction Liability team. In this role, Mr. Wiener is responsible for the development and implementation of transactional-based risk solutions, including the deployment of insurance capital for M&A transactions through representations and warranties, litigation, tax and other contingent liabilities insurance. Prior to joining the Aon Team, Matthew was an attorney at Vinson & Elkins LLP, where he specialized in corporate finance and securities law matters, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity, public and private securities offerings, divestitures, and general corporate representation.
Ray Bogenrief has a diverse corporate practice with extensive experience in leveraged buyouts for private equity funds, including for domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, and finance-related transactions, such as SPACs and de-SPACs.
Mr. Bogenrief regularly represents private equity firms, as well as various private and public corporate clients, in a wide variety of acquisition and sale transactions, leveraged buyouts, capital transactions, spin-offs and various types of other financing transactions. He also counsels clients on recapitalizations and restructurings, executive compensation and incentive equity matters, and general corporate governance and compliance.
Mr. Bogenrief’s experience at Skadden includes, among other matters, advising:
- Burke Porter Group, a leading global provider of automated diagnostic, testing and production solutions serving life science and specialty industrial end markets, in its sale to AEA Investors LP; and
- Delos Capital in connection with the sale of FCA Packaging, a leading manufacturer of customized industrial protective packaging solutions, to Wynnchurch Capital, L.P.
Matters on which he advised prior to joining Skadden include:
- Victory Park Capital, a leading private equity firm focused on emerging and established business across various industries in the U.S. and abroad, in numerous transactions, including the following Victory Park Capital-sponsored SPACs:
- VPC Impact Acquisition Holdings III, Inc. in its $4 billion business combination with Dave Inc., a financial platform;
- VPC Impact Acquisition Holdings II in its $2.5 billion business combination with FinAccel, the parent of artificial intelligence-enabled digital consumer credit platform Kredivo; and
- VPC Impact Acquisition Holdings in its $2.1 billion business combination with Bakkt Holdings, a digital asset marketplace;
- dMY Technology Group, Inc., a SPAC, in its $1.78 billion business combination with Rush Street Interactive, LP, a U.S.-based online casino and sports betting company;
- L Squared Capital Partners, an investment firm focusing on long-term investments in leading growth companies operating in targeted sectors, in its acquisition of Literacy Resources, LLC, d/b/a Heggerty, a leading early childhood literacy solutions provider;
- Rotunda Capital Partners, an operationally focused private equity firm, in its acquisition of Storm Smart, one of the largest vertically integrated direct-to-consumer marketers, manufacturers and installers of storm protection products in Florida;
- Aptean, Inc., a global provider of mission-critical enterprise software solutions and portfolio company of Vista Equity Partners, in its acquisition of Lascom, a leader in product lifecycle management solutions for the manufacturing sector;
- Monroe Capital, a Chicago-based private credit asset management firm specializing in direct lending and private credit investing, in multiple transactions;
- Delos Capital in connection with the formation of MechanAir LLC, a platform consisting of commercial HVAC/mechanical and plumbing contractors with regional, industry and technology differentiation across the Midwest and East Coast;
- SoftBank Vision Fund in its investment in Energy Vault, a Switzerland-based startup utilizing advanced technology to facilitate long-term energy storage;
- Intermediate Capital Group plc in connection with a second lien credit facility, consisting of initial term loans and delayed draw term loans, in part to finance the acquisition of Utimus Fund Solutions and The Gemini Companies by the sponsor, GTCR; and
- Alliant Insurance Services and Stone Point Capital LLC in connection with a preferred equity offering to various co-investors and a preferred equity repurchase from Alliant Insurance Services’ majority preferred equity holder.
In addition, Mr. Bogenrief has represented Clearlake Capital, Jump Capital, GTCR, Lee Equity Partners, Levine Leichtman Capital Partners, Macquarie Capital, Madison Dearborn Partners, Monomoy Capital Partners, Olympus Partners, Sun Capital Partners, Thoma Bravo, LLC and Waud Capital Partners in various transactions.
Mr. Bogenrief has been recognized repeatedly as a leader in M&A and private equity by business and legal publications, including The Legal 500 and Euromoney’s Expert Guides, and was selected for inclusion in Chambers USA 2022. He also received the Emerging Leaders award from The M&A Advisor in 2019.
Thomas is a Principal at Pritzker Private Capital focused on the firm’s investing activities in the Manufactured Products sector. Prior to joining Pritzker Private Capital, Thomas worked at Madison Dearborn Capital Partners, a multi-billion dollar Chicago-based firm. Prior to joining Madison Dearborn, Thomas was an investment banking analyst at Deutsche Bank in their Financial Sponsors Group.
Thomas received his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. He received his B.B.A. in Finance from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.
Sheryl Schwartz is a Co Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Alti, which has created products that give individual investors greater access to institutional quality private equity opportunities. In addition, she serves on the Board, Audit Committee and Compensation Committee of Cartesian Growth II, a Nasdaq listed company and is an Adjunct Professor Finance and Private Equity at Fordham Gabelli School of Business. She is a seasoned executive, institutional investor and board member with financial expertise that has built and lead teams and new asset classes for major institutional investors. She has had over 25 years of financial management leadership roles with pension funds, insurance companies and investment firms with financial acumen across asset classes and industries. She has sector expertise in alternatives, private equity and fixed income.
Previously she was a Managing Director at Caspian Private Equity, Perseus and TIAA-CREF. In her roles, she lead investments in private equity on behalf of institutional investors where she built diversified portfolios with a focus on ESG, emerging managers and mid market. At Alti, TIAA, Caspian and Perseus, she is or has been a member of the Investment and Executive Committee for alternative investments including funds, co-investments, mezzanine debt, timber and real estate. Previously, Ms. Schwartz built and led TIAA-CREF’s Alternative Investment team, which included building a diversified portfolio of $13 billion of investments in private equity funds, co-investments, mezzanine debt and timber and included management, leadership, portfolio strategy, composition, performance, asset allocation, underwriting and presentations to senior management, the board and institutional clients.
Ms. Schwartz serves on the Board of Directors of Nasdaq listed Cartesian Growth II and the Women’s Association of Venture and Equity, which is a nonprofit organization committed to the development and advancement of women in private equity and venture capital since 2007. Ms Schwartz is currently a Fellow at AIF and has served in various positions for AIF since 2013, a think tank focused on Alternative Investment industry. Ms Schwartz also served as an LP Advisory Board member for many private equity funds.
Ms Schwartz was one of Mergers & Acquisitions "Most Influential Women in the Mid Market M&A" in 2015 , 2016, 2019, 2021 and 2022 and was featured in the Wall Street Journals, “Six of Private Equity’s Most Influential Female Gatekeepers” in 2017 and in Buyouts Magazine in March 2019 “Building networks: 10 women Thriving in PE and helping transform the culture” .
Ms. Schwartz holds both a B.S. and an M.B.A. in Finance from New York University.
Prior to joining Vistria, Mr. Schulz was at Altaris Capital Partners, a middle-market private equity firm focused on investments in healthcare. At Altaris he was responsible for evaluating and executing transactions across the healthcare industry. Prior to Altaris, Mr. Schulz was with Leerink Partners, a healthcare-focused investment bank. Mr. Schulz began his career with Merrill Lynch in the Global Healthcare Investment Banking Group where he worked on a variety of M&A transactions and equity and debt financings.
Mr. Schulz is actively involved with Vistria’s investments in Homecare Holdings, HomeFree Pharmacy Services, Mission Healthcare, PHCN, Medulla (dba Chiro One), and Alacura. He was also involved with Vistria’s prior investments in St. Croix Hospice and AgapeCare.
Mr. Schulz received a B.S. in Business Administration from the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.