Event Schedule
- 7:30 A.M. Registration, Coffee & Networking
- 8:00 A.M. Breakfast Grand Ballroom - 4th Floor
- 8:15 A.M. Welcome Address Grand Ballroom - 4th Floor
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8:30 A.M. - 9:15 A.M. All-Attendee M&A Roundtable Grand Ballroom - 4th Floor
Presented By: Bank of America Merrill Lynch
A quartet of regional business executives and investors explore current trends in dealmaking, share personal anecdotes about recent transactions and discuss the implications on their organizations. They will also offer insight on how to face unforeseen challenges and take advantage of opportunities in today’s economic environment.
Moderator:
Andrew Sinclair
Managing Director Midwest Regional (Middle Market) Investment Banking
Bank of America
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9:30 A.M. - 10:15 A.M. So, You Want to Buy a Business? Adams Room - 6th Floor
Presented By: RSM US LLP & Wintrust
Join a group of serial entrepreneurs and M&A advisers for a rousing conversation on how to identify potential acquisition targets, navigate the process, avoid common mistakes and steer clear of deal breakers.
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9:30 A.M. - 10:15 A.M. True North: Charting a Plan to Sell Your Business Monroe Room - 6th Floor
Presented By: Fifth Third & Horwood Marcus
When selling your company, if you don’t prepare you will be doomed to either run into trouble or leave money on the table. Veteran C-suite executives, investors and dealmakers explore common threads and offer practical advice to help you think through selling your business.
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- 10:15 A.M. - 10:45 A.M. Networking & Refreshments
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10:45 A.M. - 11:30 A.M. Building Strong Capital Stacks: Raising Capital to Fuel Your Organization’s Growth Adams Room - 6th Floor
Presented By: Locke Lord & Livingstone
Whether you are looking to sell a minority interest in your company by raising capital or want to sell your company outright, knowledge is power. A panel of entrepreneurs, investors and M&A experts share their thoughts on how to choose the right sources to finance accelerated growth.
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10:45 A.M. - 11:30 A.M. Maximizing Returns: How to Prepare for Life After Business Liquidity Events. Monroe Room - 6th Floor
Presented By: Cendrowski Corporate Advisors & Marcum LLP
Two entrepreneurs join forces with a pair of M&A advisers to share stories about how they created liquidity events by selling companies. This conversation will also explore how to prepare for life after the sale.
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- 11:30 A.M. - Noon Networking
- Noon Lunch Grand Ballroom - 4th Floor
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12:30 P.M. - 1:10 P.M. Chicago: The Food Industry Hub of America Grand Ballroom - 4th Floor
A quartet of Chicago’s top food industry leaders and investors take a deep dive into why the region’s myriad F&B companies continue to attract investments, grow at lightning speed and feast on the competition.
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1:30 P.M. - 2:15 P.M. Buy, Buy, Build: A Deep Dive on the Buy Side Adams Room - 6th Floor
Presented By: ORBA & Katten Muchin Rosenman
Join CEOs, investors and M&A experts for an exploration of best practices and pitfalls when accelerating growth through acquisitions. This group will share what’s worked and what hasn’t, including how to minimize the impact on your company’s current operations.
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1:30 P.M. - 2:15 P.M. Before, During and After the Sale’s Process: Some Key Issues Monroe Room - 6th Floor
Presented By: Duane Morris & PNC
A panel of business owners and transactional professionals share war stories and common mistakes to avoid during key points of the sale process to insure you get the best deal.
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2:30 P.M. - 3:15 P.M. Transaction Preparedness: Checking the Boxes on Deal Readiness Adams Room - 6th Floor
Presented By: CLA & BMO Harris Bank
No matter what type of M&A you and your company are involved with, success means being ready for the deal to go down. A group of veteran dealmakers discuss what you should know, common missteps and practical advice — including how to manage the emotional side of transactions.
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2:30 P.M. - 3:15 P.M. Critical Decision-Making in Liquidity Events Monroe Room - 6th Floor
Presented By: Praire Capital Advisors & Alex Brown, a division of Raymond James
Serial entrepreneurs, CEOs and M&A advisers analyze recent liquidity events, discuss how to navigate alternative options, and stress the importance of addressing critical issues before and during the sale of a company to a third party or an ESOP.
Moderator:
Roger Veome
Regional Executive & Managing Director, Investments
Alex Brown A Division of Raymond James
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- 3:30 P.M. Cocktail Reception & Dealmaker of the Year Awards State Ballroom - 4th Floor