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Learn directly from leading economists, including Rishi Bansal from BankUnited, Tom Jalics from Fifth Third Bank, and moderated by Hy Vaupen of Vaupen Financial Advisors. They delve into detailed reviews and predictions for the economy, business lending, and financial markets in the year ahead.   Speakers Rishi Bansal, Chief Investment Officer, BankUnited Rishi Bansal is the Chief Investment Officer for BankUnited, which he joined in 2009. He has served in his role since February 2017 and was part of the advisory group that worked on the bank's acquisition. He is responsible for the bank’s investment securities portfolio and manages the bank's residential loan portfolio, residential mortgage warehouse business, and Pinnacle Public Finance business. Prior to joining BankUnited, he was a managing director in fixed income with Merrill Lynch from 2007 through 2009 and a fixed income trader at Lehman Brothers from 1998 through 2007.   Tom Jalics, Chief Market Strategist Senior VP, Fifth Third Bank Tom Jalics is the Chief Market Strategist at Fifth Third Bank, with over 20 years of industry experience. He is responsible for leading the Investment Management Group’s strategic and tactical asset allocation process. He provides internal and external communication on the economy and markets, makes public speaking and media appearances on behalf of the bank, and is a discretionary investment portfolio manager focusing on high-net-worth clients. Prior to his current role, he was Director of Asset Allocation at the firm. He is an industry expert and sought-after commentator, having been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg Business News, The Economist, and Reuters.   Hy Vaupen, Managing Partner, Vaupen Financial Advisors Hy Vaupen is the Founder and Managing Partner of Vaupen Financial Advisors.  Hy has worked with rapidly growing public and private middle market companies for over 35 years. Throughout his career, he has held positions in executive-level financial and operational management and financial consulting/advisory capacities. Vaupen's extensive financial experience and market relationships provide the basis for the firm to advise, structure, and secure a variety of financing and capital transactions for its clients, including senior lines of credit, subordinated debt, and various alternative forms of equity capital. He has extensive experience with advising on and executing corporate acquisitions and divestitures. Read more

The course will cover the roles and responsibilities of Seller Counsel and Buyer Counsel. Seller Counsel will focus on drafting the Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA), compiling and updating the client's organizational documents and key legal materials, negotiating terms with opposing counsel and other parties to the transaction, reviewing and revising deal documents, and handling closing and post-closing matters. Buyer Counsel, on the other hand, will be responsible for drafting the deal documents, participating in due diligence efforts as part of the buyer team, and negotiating deal term revisions or additional terms based on due diligence results.  Key documents of the transaction, such as the Non-Disclosure Agreement, Letter of Intent, Purchase/Sale Agreement, and Ancillary Agreements (Employment, Non-Compete, Buy Back Option, Seller Finance Docs), will also be discussed in detail. The course will cover the role of legal counsel in assisting the seller client in due diligence preparations and efforts, setting up the data room, providing relevant materials per requests, and participating in due diligence efforts as part of the buyer team. Also, take a look at emerging trends in the field, such as the use of rep/warranty and cyber risks, as well as the involvement of IT, insurance, and HR participants alongside traditional legal, tax, and accounting resources, will also be explored. The course will delve into when insurance makes sense in a deal and whether it replaces escrow holdbacks, as well as who pays for it.   Instructor David Asmus, Managing Principal, brings more than 40 years of professional experience in business transactions counseling to his clients. His experience includes advising buyers, sellers, equity investors, and financial institutions on mergers, acquisitions, capital raise efforts, succession planning and related transitional matters. He was a partner in a Chicago-based national law firm where he represented business ownership interests and local, regional, and national banks as well as commercial finance groups regarding a wide range of financial and transactional matters. Following retirement from his equity partnership position, he joined a Scottsdale, Arizona based M&A advisory firm where he continued to advise businesses on buy and sell side matters. Over the course of his professional career, he has handled numerous complex M&A transactions as well as workout, restructure and reorganization matters for lenders and business interests. Education: David received his Juris Doctorate from Saint Louis University and his Bachelor of Arts degree from Saint Ambrose University in Iowa. Memberships: David is a member of the Alliance of Merger & Acquisition Advisors (“AMAA”), where he serves as Chair of the AMAA National Advisory Council. He served as Chair of the Conference/Events Committee of AM&AA and chaired the semi-annual national conferences in 2020 and 2021. David is an adjunct lecturer on “Legal Aspects of M&A Transactions” at Pepperdine University in California and University of Tampa in Florida. From 2016-2019, David served on the Saint Ambrose University Alumni Association Board of Directors. In 2020, he was invited to become a member of the President’s Advisory Council at Saint Ambrose where he continues to serve his alma mater.  Read more

Explore the world of private capital markets, where we look at the changing trends in buying and selling companies and the complex world of getting funds for growth.  See how deals are put together, thinking about what the buyer, seller, and lender want. Follow the steps of an acquisition, starting with the strategic plan and ending with everything working smoothly together. Discover how loans that come with a bit more risk, like mezzanine financing, work together with other ways of structuring deals. Figure out how to decide if a company we want to buy will not just make money but also help us creative shareholder value. This session provides a broad overview of financing from the various perspectives within middle market M&A.   Instructor: Kenneth H. Marks Kenneth Marks is an entrepreneur and subject matter expert in mergers, acquisitions and financing of emerging growth and middle market companies. He combines his first-hand experiences in financing, building and selling multiple businesses for himself with more than a dozen years of developing growth strategies and doing deals with the objective to partner with CEO's to achieve their goals and aspirations.  Read more

Business Valuation for M&A In Part 1 of this class, you will learn about valuation the various standards (definitions) of value and their application for various purposes. You will gain an understanding of how the subject of valuation impacts the approach to valuation and identify the factors that influence pricing in an M&A transaction. Additionally, you will explore the M&A/valuation balance sheet and enterprise value, as well as the steps involved in the valuation process. Lastly, you will delve into the different approaches to valuation, including the cost/asset approach, income approach, and market approach, and learn about the methods within each approach and their typical applications.   Financial Analysis, Transaction Valuation, and Transaction Pricing In Part 2 of this class, embark on a comprehensive exploration of financial analysis for valuation and M&A. Learn essential techniques such as trend, ratio, and benchmark analysis, understanding the impact of reliable financial information on valuation. Navigate the M&A/valuation balance sheet intricacies, distinguishing between operating and non-operating assets, cash-free, debt-free net working capital, and their implications. Under expert guidance, master economic earnings measurement, comprehend normalizing and control adjustments, and recognize their pivotal roles in valuation and M&A. Simultaneously, gain insight into external and internal factors influencing Enterprise Value and Transaction Price. Uncover intricacies of market dynamics, industry trends, and company-specific attributes shaping valuation and transaction structures. Identify the business's market, involved buyer types, and their impact on transaction pricing and valuation. Develop skills to recognize risk factors, value drivers, and strategies for optimizing overall value. Explore effects of transaction structure on buyers and sellers, including stock versus asset sales, tax considerations, and their influence on buyer value and seller proceeds. The course also sheds light on how factors like debt, taxes, and non-cash considerations play a crucial role in shaping overall value.    Instructor Brent Solomon is an independent valuation, transaction, and CFO advisor and an adjunct professor for the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland.  Brent provides strategic CFO advisory services and project based valuation and transaction advisory services for venture capital/private equity fund sponsors, public REITs, and businesses involved in technology/government contracting, real estate, media/entertainment and other industries.  Brent teaches business and valuation analysis using financial statements, created and teaches a course on valuation measurement, disclosure and auditing for financial reporting (Fair Value) for the masters program, and teaches valuation for closely-held transactions in the executive education program. Read more

This online professional education class provides an introduction to corporate M&A, including the conceptual framework and adjustments to the income statement. Students will also gain an understanding of valuation and accretion/dilution case studies. With this knowledge, students can evaluate M&A transactions with greater accuracy and make informed decisions.   Instructor: Champ Davis  Champ W. Davis has significant experience providing investment banking services to clients in a wide variety of manufacturing, distribution, and service industries. His clients have ranged from closely held private companies to large-cap publicly traded corporations. Davis has advised clients on mergers and acquisitions, financial restructurings, and private placements of debt and equity. He has also advised clients on structuring and financing ESOPS, recapitalizations, leveraged buyouts, management buyouts, and going-private transactions. He has provided complex financial analysis for the rendering of fairness and solvency opinions.  Read more

This professional education online class is designed to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of the Private Capital Markets, their differences from the public markets, and current trends. Participants will learn about valuation statistics, acquisition strategies, transaction volume, and private equity fundraising. The class will also cover the connection between sources of capital, transfer methods, and valuation for privately held businesses. The course is ideal for finance and investment professionals looking to offer advisory services to privately held businesses. Instructor: Chris Blees Chris Blees is a CPA and middle market investment banker specializing in the sale of closely held middle market companies. Blees began his career as a CPA at BiggsKofford PC. In 2003, Blees launched the firm’s M&A practice, known as BiggsKofford Capital. In 2007, he was also appointed as the CPA firm’s Managing Partner. Blees has become a leader in the M&A sector through his involvement in over 300 mergers, acquisitions, and sale transactions. Blees is a member of the “Founders Circle” for the Alliance of Merger & Acquisition Advisors (AM&AA) and was elected Chairman of the AM&AA in 2020. Through the AM&AA, he serves as the lead instructor for the Certified Merger & Acquisition Advisor (CM&AA) program, having instructed over 1,000 Certified M&A professionals worldwide.  Read more