De-Risking the Deal
Presented By: Aon / Foley & Lardner LLP
The list of issues that can derail an M&A transaction these days continues to grow—cybersecurity breaches, labor and talent challenges, delays in the ability to deliver to clients products and services, COVID-related EBITA bumps (or drops). So what can you do to mitigate risk if you’re looking to raise capital, make an acquisition, generate a liquidity event, or sell the company? And, what common sense approaches can you employ today to make your company more attractive and safer for potential deal partners? Join us for an introspective look and discussion from a group of executives, investors, and M&A advisors.
Moderator:
Partner
Foley & Lardner LLP
Spencer is a partner in the Milwaukee office of Foley & Lardner LLP. Spencer practices primarily in the areas of corporate law, mergers & acquisitions, securities law, capital markets and corporate governance. Spencer is a member of the firm’s Transactions Practice and is a leader of the firm’s Private Equity & Venture Capital Practice. Spencer’s practice is largely industry agnostic, although he has significant experience representing clients in the food & beverage, healthcare, leisure & hospitality, manufacturing, oil & gas and technology industries.
Spencer has advised clients in connection with more than 100 public and private mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures and other business combination transactions with an aggregate deal value exceeding $10 billion.
Panelists:
Vice President, M&A and Transaction Solutions
Aon
John Kramp is a Vice President within Aon’s M&A and Transaction Solutions practice. In this role he is responsible for advising clients in connection with representations and warranties insurance, tax insurance, and other types of transaction liability products. Prior to joining Aon, John practiced law for seven years. Most recently he was a corporate associate at Katten, where he specialized in health care M&A, joint ventures, and other transactions.
Associate General Counsel
U.S. Venture, Inc.
Jennifer Schwitzer is an Associate General Counsel for U.S. Venture, Inc. supporting the company's U.S. Oil, BreakthrougFuel and IGEN businesses. U.S. Venture has been recognized as an innovative leader in the distribution of petroleum and renewable energy products, lubricants, tires and parts, and using data-driven insights to manage energy and information in the global movement of goods. Prior to joining U.S. Venture, she worked for Schneider National, Integrys Energy Services, Inc., three international law firms in Washington, D.C., and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. She is licensed to practice law in Wisconsin, Oklahoma and the District of Columbia and is a member of the Association of Corporate Counsel and the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics.
Director
Mason Wells
As a Director of Mason Wells Buyout Funds, Mr. Thome is primarily responsible for supporting the funds' investment activities. In this capacity, Mr. Thome is responsible for initiating investment opportunities, conducting due diligence, negotiating debt financings, serving on the Board of Directors of portfolio companies, and working with portfolio company management teams.
Prior to joining Mason Wells in 2012, Mr. Thome worked as an Investment Banking Analyst at Piper Jaffray in Minneapolis where he was involved in numerous mergers & acquisitions, advisory and capital markets transactions in the industrial sector.