The Deal Economy Dallas

Jun. 21, 2021
8:45 am - 1:25 pm

About this In-Person Event

As the economy recovers, and the market adjusts to the new post-pandemic normal, 2021 is shaping up to be a banner year for M&A activity. Sellers of strong, well-performing middle-market businesses find themselves in a favorable position to capitalize on opportunities from well-funded buyers or strategics, while buyers are seeing a growing pool of companies starting to evaluate strategies and noncore assets.

How has the Covid-19 pandemic forced dealmakers to change their approach? How has deal sourcing changed in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic? Are carve-outs a favorable deal type for both buyers and sellers? Will SPACs continue to play a significant role in the M&A market? Will ESG play a significant role in dealmaking?

Join The Deal and a roster of senior corporate executives, private equity and institutional investors, and corporate advisers for The Deal Economy Dallas. This full day, in-person event explores the opportunities, obstacles and risks middle-market dealmakers face in the current environment and how to navigate through them.

Speakers

Marietta Hannigan
EVP, Chief Strategy, Corporate Development & Communications Officer, Jacobs

Over the last several years, Jacobs embarked on a strategy to strengthen their corporate culture, transform their core business and expand profitable growth through significant acquisitions and divestiture. In her role as Chief Strategy, Corporate Development and Communications Officer, Marietta Hannigan has led the development, articulation and execution of Jacobs’ brand leadership, corporate strategy and portfolio transformation.

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Damian Burke
Managing Director, Main Street Capital Corporation
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Dodie Butler
Board Chair and Board Member, Thomas Crown, Inc.
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Jay Desai
Partner, Kainos Capital
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Brigid English
Senior Advisor, Firelight Capital
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Ross Gatlin
CEO & Managing Partner, Prophet Equity
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Jorge Gonzalez
Partner, Baker McKenzie
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Tom Harris
Partner, Haynes and Boone
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Tiffany Kosch
Managing Director, CenterGate Capital
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Thomas Laughlin
Partner, Kirkland & Ellis
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Scott Leonard
CEO and Director, Sustainable Opportunities Acquisition Corp.
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Barrett Lidji
Partner, Northaven Capital Partners
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Brian Reed
Partner, Transaction Advisory Services, Weaver
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Jack Sadden
Partner, Valesco Industries
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Gina Sandon
Director, Corporate Development, Global Merger & Acquisition Synergy, IBM
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Adam Shulman
Vice President and Deputy General Counsel - Acetyl Chain and Business Strategy & Development, Celanese Corporation
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Dan Swift
Partner, Redbird Capital Partners
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Gabriella Villalobos
Independent Board Director and Advisor
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Agenda

9:00am – 9:50am
Private Equity Update

From an investor perspective, how has the Covid-19 pandemic changed the dynamics of private equity strategies and operations, and will these changes be permanent or temporary? How did private equity managers help their portfolio companies get through the last year? What current challenges are investors seeing relating to third party support, supply chain issues and attracting and retaining talent? How is the current political environment effecting how investors are approaching new deals and exits in their portfolio companies? What are investor expectations for the rest of 2021 and beyond?

Moderator: Gabriella Villalobos, Independent Board Director and Advisor

Panelist: Damian Burke, Managing Director, Main Street Capital Corporation

Panelist: Brigid English, Senior Advisor, Firelight Capital

Panelist: Tiffany Kosch, Managing Director, CenterGate Capital

9:50am – 10:40am
The Art of the Carve-Out Deal

Private Equity firms are circling as they look to create value from overlooked corporate business units. Meanwhile, the pool of targets is growing for PE and strategics alike, as the pandemic has forced many corporations to look inward and assess their own operations. How has the carve-out deal changed during the pandemic? What mix of buyers are corporates seeing for carve-out transactions? How does PE differentiate itself in a process for a carve-out asset?

Moderator: Tom Terrarosa, Senior Editor, The Deal

Panelist: Dodie Butler, Board Chair and Board Member, Thomas Crown, Inc.

Panelist: Jay Desai, Partner, Kainos Capital

Panelist: Adam Shulman, Vice President and Deputy General Counsel – Acetyl Chain and Business Strategy & Development, Celanese Corporation

10:40am – 11:00am
Networking Break
11:00am – 11:50am
SPACs Fill Unique Role in M&A Landscape

SPACs (Special Purpose Acquisition Companies) are shell companies created for the sole purpose of taking a private company public and have been playing a significant role in the M&A market, as capital flows at a staggering rate into these “blank check” companies. For sellers, SPACs expand the investor pool and provide a way to access capital that otherwise might not have been available and may be more desirable than an outright sale to another corporate or PE buyer. Will we see the SPAC frenzy continue, and what nuances do investors and companies need to be aware of?

Moderator: David Marcus, Senior Writer, The Deal

Panelist: Thomas Laughlin, Partner, Kirkland & Ellis

Panelist: Scott Leonard, CEO and Director, Sustainable Opportunities Acquisition Corp.

Panelist: Dan Swift, Partner, Redbird Capital Partners

11:50am – 12:20pm
Keynote Interview with Marietta Hannigan, EVP, Chief Strategy, Corporate Development & Communications Officer, Jacobs

Over the last several years, Jacobs embarked on a strategy to strengthen their corporate culture, transform their core business and expand profitable growth through significant acquisitions and divestiture. In her role as Chief Strategy, Corporate Development and Communications Officer, Marietta Hannigan has led the development, articulation and execution of Jacobs’ brand leadership, corporate strategy and portfolio transformation. Ms. Hannigan will discuss what the company is doing around ESG initiatives, explore their sustainability strategy and examine how they have created a more positive work environment through diversity and inclusion and unique employee programs.

Interviewer: Tom Terrarosa, Senior Editor, The Deal

12:20pm – 1:20pm
Networking Luncheon
1:20pm – 2:10pm
The State of Middle Market M&A

The recovery of M&A activity toward the end of 2020 continues to accelerate in 2021, and as valuations remain high, we see targets coming from a growing pool of sellers. Paused deals have re-emerged, private equity still has record amounts of dry powder to deploy, and companies that were hit hard during the pandemic are reassessing strategies and noncore assets. What sectors will see opportunity during the recovery? What obstacles may affect deal flow? How will the new presidential administration’s laws and regulations on tax and trade change the landscape? What role will M&A play in the overall global economic recovery?

Moderator: Tom Harris, Partner, Haynes and Boone

Panelist: Ross Gatlin, CEO & Managing Partner, Prophet Equity

Panelist: Barrett Lidji, Partner, Northaven Capital Partners

Panelist: Jack Sadden, Partner, Valesco Industries

2:10pm – 3:00pm
Planning Considerations for Effective Post-Acquisition Integration

Planning for an effective post-acquisition integration should begin before Day 1, as many of the challenges for a buyer only start when the deal closes. In this panel, we will discuss some of the key planning considerations and practical tips that can help ensure an effective post-acquisition integration. From leveraging the deal due diligence to take into account integration goals, assembling a cross-functional and tailored post-acquisition integration team, to being mindful of the foreign complexities that may affect implementation and timing, our panelist will discuss, from a broad perspective, a number of crucial integration planning steps that will help companies ensure the long-term success of an acquisition.

Moderator: David Marcus, Senior Writer, The Deal

Panelist: Jorge Gonzalez, Partner, Baker McKenzie

Panelist: Gina Sandon, Director, Corporate Development, Global Merger & Acquisition Synergy, IBM

Panelist: Brian Reed, Partner, Transaction Advisory Services, Weaver

Health & Safety

Health & Safety Advisory

If you have a fever, cough, shortness of breath, feeling unwell or suspect to have symptoms of COVID-19, please seek medical attention and do not attend the event.

Health & Safety Measures

We are closely working with the event venue to keep you as safe as possible during the event and we will be providing further information in due course on the precautions we will be taking. This information will be updated regularly to reflect local guidance.

Additionally, the Events Shield, established in accordance with our parent company, Euromoney Institutional Investor, adds a further layer of best practice standards and guidelines, which will be applied across all The Deal events. This comprehensive set of enhanced measures has been designed to provide our clientele with the confidence that at any Deal event around the world, we are striving to provide the highest standards of safety, hygiene, cleanliness and quality.

Physical Distancing

Events will maintain a maximum capacity and density of participants in accordance with relevant official government and regional guidance.

Health and Hygiene

The emphasis will be on encouraging good personal health and hygiene with additional handwashing and sanitation stations available. We will work with the venue to ensure we maintain the highest standards of hygiene and cleanliness.

Protection and Defense

All participants, partners and staff must abide by the health and safety procedures and protocols we put in place.

Communication and Alerts

We will be communicating our health and safety standards, procedures and event guidance to all involved in advance and on the day of the event.

On-Site Delegate Information

Conference Details

Date: Monday, June 21, 2021

Time: Registration opens from 8.15am, the first panel will begin at 9:00am

Location: The Statler, Jr Ballroom, 1914 Commerce Street, Dallas, TX 75201

Health & Safety protocol: We are closely working with the event venue to keep you as safe as possible during the event.

  • Upon arrival, we will be taking temperatures at the registration desk.
  • We recommend wearing masks where physical distancing is not possible. Masks will be available the registration desk.
  • We recommend washing hands frequently and using the sanitizer provided.
  • If while at the event you are feeling unwell, please leave, let the staff know at the registration desk and follow the relevant health/medical authority rules. We are collecting all contact information in case of a Covid-19 case at our event. You may download the protocol information here.

Dress code: Business casual

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