The Art of Mergers & Acquisitions:
Best Practices in M&A Due Diligence

Finance Roundtable

November 9, 2006, 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM

This session will examine the roles of key players in turning an M&A transaction into a signed deal with real-world examples of due diligence practices. Learn more.

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Where

Gleacher Center
Room 621
450 North Cityfront Drive
Chicago, Illinois

Who

Raymond C. Anderson, '00
Partner
Graue Mill Partners

Chris Ciannella, '04
Senior Manager
Deloitte & Touche, LLP

Nick Marsico
Partner, Business Services and Taxation Practices
Dykema Gossett, PLLC

John C. Riddle, '04
Managing Director
Dresner Partners

Todd S. Videbeck
Senior Manager
Deloitte Tax LLP

Cost

Members: None
Non-Members: None

Program

6:00 PM - 6:30 PM: Networking
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM: Presentation and Formal Discussion
8:00 PM - 8:30 PM: Social Networking

Registration

Register Online

Other Information

Note: You need not be a graduate of the University of Chicago GSB to attend, although the program content is at the MBA level. Guests are welcome!

The courtesy of a pre-registration is appreciated.

Questions

Vern Broders, '94
773.312.2248

Event Details

What makes a successful M&A deal? There are many players at the deal table and this session will examine the roles of key players in turning a preliminary transaction into a signed deal.

What are the responsibilities of these participants? What are “potholes” that can unexpectedly spoil a deal? How can dealmakers on both sides of an M&A transaction creatively find agreement on difficult issues? This session will offer real-world examples of due diligence practices that lead to win-win conclusions of merger and acquisition transactions.

Speaker Profiles

Raymond C. Anderson, '00
Partner, Graue Mill Partners

Graue Mill Partners is a private equity investor that assists owner-operators of middle-market businesses plan and fund investments in their companies. An attorney and CPA by training, Mr. Anderson began his career at Arthur Andersen. In 1995, he joined USA Floral Products as President, where he was responsible for finance, M&A, and post acquisition integration of the company's subsidiaries.

During Mr. Anderson's tenure with the company, it acquired 34 businesses with revenues ranging from $5 million to $500 million and raised over $300 million in equity and debt financing. In 1999, Mr. Anderson co-founded two technology start-ups and led them as President. Since 1999, Mr. Anderson has focused on the middle-market, providing operational and financial consulting services to companies in need of operational and/or financial restructuring.

He is also an active member of the Turnaround Management Association and the Association for Corporate Growth. In 2004, Mr. Anderson was awarded the prestigious Turnaround of the Year award from the Turnaround Management Association Chicago/Midwest Chapter.

Mr. Anderson earned an MBA from University of Chicago, a JD from Loyola University of Chicago and a BS in accounting from Indiana University.

Chris Ciannella, '04
Senior Manager, Deloitte & Touche, LLP

Mr. Ciannella is a Senior Manager at Deloitte & Touche, LLP in their Merger & Acquisition Transaction Services Group based in Chicago and has experience advising clients on financial due diligence. Chris serves a wide array of strategic and private equity investors on sell-side and buy-side due diligence across a wide variety of industries including financials services and manufacturing. In addition, Mr. Ciannella has experience in cross-border transactions within the automobile industry.

Chris holds an MBA in finance and marketing from the University of Chicago, Graduate School of Business and a Bachelor degree from Northern Illinois University. Chris is also a Certified Public Accountant.

Nick Marsico
Partner, Business Services and Taxation Practices, Dykema Gossett, PLLC

Mr. Marsico is a business person who happens to be an attorney. He provides practical, real-world answers and translates legal issues into business issues that can be more easily evaluated. Mr. Marsico is a member (partner) practicing in the business services and tax areas.

His business services practice focuses on limited liability company issues, private placements, mergers and acquisitions, trademark and copyright law, entity formation, contract drafting and contract law, asset securitization transactions, and various other transactional business matters. His tax practice focuses on federal and state tax planning, tax compliance matters, tax litigation, and Illinois franchise tax matters.

Mr. Marsico is a CPA and teaches business law classes for DePaul University's CPA Review Program. He has been a speaker at various seminars involving recent developments in tax and business law. He has been selected as a member of the “Leading American Attorneys” by the Leading Attorney Network (lawlead.com) and has been named an "Illinois Super Lawyer" by Law & Politics. Mr. Marsico received his Law degree (with highest honors) and a Bachelor of Science from DePaul University.

John C. Riddle, '04
Managing Director, Dresner Partners

Mr. Riddle has 15 years of investment banking and corporate finance experience. He has extensive corporate transaction and advisory experience, with a continuing focus on mergers and acquisitions, institutional equity and debt capital placements, and complex corporate restructurings. With a specific focus in healthcare and basic industrials, Mr. Riddle has a broad spectrum of industry experience, working as a senior advisor to leading industry players such as Children's Memorial Hospital (Chicago), Carle Foundation and Clinic, MacLean-Fogg Company, and Chicago Sweeteners.

Prior to joining Dresner Partners, Mr. Riddle invested in technology and business process outsourcing companies with a private equity firm. He began his career with Continental Bank in their leveraged finance group, focused on transaction finance in Media (build-ups by McCall Cellular and Tele-Communications, Inc.), Entertainment (leveraged buy-out of United Artists Theaters, build-up by Gillette Holdings/Vail Resorts), and Food (Cargill, Omaha Steaks, Leprino Foods).

Mr. Riddle holds an MBA in Finance and Economics (with High Honors), University of Chicago Graduate School of Business and a BA in Philosophy and Biology, Wabash College.

Todd S. Videbeck
Senior Manager, Deloitte Tax LLP

Todd Videbeck is a Senior Manager in Deloitte’s Merger & Acquisition Transaction Services practice. Todd advises clients on a variety of tax issues related to mergers and acquisitions, including tax structuring of acquisitions and dispositions, tax due diligence, and tax planning strategies. Todd has also advised troubled companies on tax issues in bankruptcy.

Todd has spent his career serving clients in variety of industries. Todd’s clients include private equity investors and strategic buyers as well as several of Deloitte’s main-line tax clients. Todd is a graduate of the University of Illinois and is a Certified Public Accountant.