Agenda
- 7:30 A.M. Registration, Coffee & Networking
- 8:00 A.M. Breakfast Is Served Woodward Ballroom - 2nd Floor
- 8:15 A.M. Welcome Address Woodward Ballroom - 2nd Floor
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8:30 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. M&A Roundtable Woodward Ballroom - 2nd Floor
Presented By: Chemical Bank
Three of Detroit’s top dealmakers — a venture capitalist, private equity leader, and former CEO — start the day with a rousing conversation that explores current trends in dealmaking, shares their experiences buying and selling companies, and provides insight on how they identify and make capital and equity investments.
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9:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. So, You Want to Buy a Company? How to Identify Targets, Manage the Process, and Overcome Obstacles Founders Room AB - 3rd Floor
Presented By: Dickinson Wright PLLC & Huntington
Do you know what it takes to buy a business? Join a panel of finance-minded entrepreneurs, experts and investors as they share their frontline experiences buying businesses and structuring acquisition deals.
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9:30 A.M. - 10:15 A.M. True North: Navigating the Process of Selling Your Business Crystal Ballroom – 4th Floor
Presented By: EdgePoint Capital Advisors
Three entrepreneurs explore their journeys of selling businesses to private equity, strategic and third-party buyers. They’ll explain how the deals came together, as well as how to identify — and overcome — common mistakes when structuring, negotiating and closing middle-market M&A transaction.
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9:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Operational Integration: Pitfalls…and Best Practices to Avoid Them Venetian Ballroom – 4th Floor
Presented By: EY & PNC
Once you’ve closed the acquisition, many people believe the heavy lifting is done. The reality, however, is that even while the ink dries the challenge that lies ahead is integrating the acquisition into existing operations. Join a panel of entrepreneurs and financial experts as they share what’s worked and what hasn’t.
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10:45 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Financing Growth: A Deep Dive Into Understanding Sources, Structure and Business Valuation Founders Room AB - 3rd Floor
Presented By: Dickinson Wright PLLC & Citizens Bank
Fueling growth requires capital investment — especially when part of your plan includes mergers or acquisitions, adding staff, or rolling out new products and services. Join a dynamic conversation with an entrepreneur and a group of financial experts as they discuss options for raising capital and valuing your business.
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10:45 A.M. - 11:30 A.M. Maximizing Returns: How to Prepare for Life After Business Liquidity Events Crystal Ballroom – 4th Floor
Presented By: Ancora Advisors & Cendrowski Corporate Advisors
Two high-profile entrepreneurs join forces with M&A advisers to share stories about how they created liquidity events by selling their companies. This conversation will explore how to prepare for life after the sale … and what comes next.
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10:45 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Alternative Investment Pros and Cons Venetian Ballroom – 4th Floor
Presented By: RSM & Fifth Third Bank
Funding to help grow a company can come from multiple sources. Join a dynamic conversation with an entrepreneur-turned-venture capitalist, and a group of M&A professionals as they explore alternative investing. From creating family offices to becoming an angel investor or VC, this panel will share different vehicles available to leverage — and deploy — your personal capital.
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- 11:30 A.M. - Noon Networking
- Noon Lunch Woodward Ballroom - 2nd Floor
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12:30 P.M. - 1:15 P.M. Luncheon Panel Discussion: NextGen M&A: How Mobility and AI Impact Dealmaking Activity, Decisions, and Investments Woodward Ballroom - 2nd Floor
The acceleration of technology — mobility, AI and automation — coupled with evolving industries in automotive, manufacturing, transportation and logistics, has created a different ecosystem in M&A for Michigan and beyond. Join us as an all-star panel of entrepreneurs, investors, and experts explores the effect of technology on investment decisions … and the opportunities being created.
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1:30 P.M. - 2:15 P.M. Buy, Buy, Build: Best Practices and Pitfalls in Accelerating Growth through Acquisitions, and the Importance of Due Diligence Venetian Ballroom – 4th Floor
Presented By: Plunkett Cooney
When you’re in acquisition mode, no deal is simple. Whether it is putting the right strategy together, conducting stringent due diligence or ensuring a seamless integration after the transaction closes, it’s imperative to take the time to get it right. A group of veteran business leaders, investors and M&A advisers offer tips on ways to make sure the deal closes and accelerates your business goals.
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1:30 P.M. - 2:15 P.M. Sales Cycle: Entrepreneurs Share Frontline Stories of Life Before, During and After Selling a Business Crystal Ballroom – 4th Floor
Presented By: UHY Advisors Corporate Finance & Howard & Howard
Selling your business can be complicated, but highly rewarding when you have a plan. This means understanding when to sell your company, the type of buyer to consider and preparing for the transaction. Join a veteran entrepreneur, a capital investor and two M&A advisers for stories of firsthand experiences and best practices learned from years of dealmaking.
Moderator:
Joseph J. DeVito
Partner and Chairman of Corporate, Finance and Real Estate Practice Group
Howard & Howard Attorneys PLLC
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2:30 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. Building Strong Capital Stacks: How to Choose the Right Source to Fuel Growth Venetian Ballroom – 4th Floor
Presented By: KeyBank
What happens when an entrepreneur-turned-venture capitalist, a private equity leader, and a veteran banker team up to discuss ways to raise capital? A rousing conversation that explores the questions any C-suite executives needs to ask when determining which type of capital source is best for them.
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2:30 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. You’ve Sold Your Business … Now What? How to Build a Roadmap for What to Do After a Liquidity Event Crystal Ballroom – 4th Floor
Presented By: Wells Fargo Advisors
The team that sold Meridian to WellCare breaks down the deal — which yielded more than $2 billion for the family — and explains how they built a road map for life after the liquidity event. Join us as they peel back the curtain on one of the region’s highest-profile deals of 2018.
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- 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Cocktail Reception & Awards 4th Floor Pre-Function
- 5:00 P.M. Adjourn