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Session C

De-Risking the Deal

Presented By: Benesch / Aon

The list of issues that can derail an M&A transaction continues to grow. They include cybersecurity breaches, labor and talent challenges, delays in the ability to deliver products and services to clients, and COVID-related EBITA bumps (or drops). So, what can you do to mitigate risk when you’re preparing to sell your business, make an acquisition, raise capital, or generate a significant liquidity event? Join a group of experienced dealmakers for a discussion on how to identify, understand, and box in risks so that you and your company are prepared to pursue whatever type of deal comes along.

Moderator:

Christopher Hopkins
Partner
Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff LLP

Christopher has diverse experience representing top-tier leveraged buyout and private equity funds, fund sponsors and investors, and their portfolio companies. Chris advises clients on corporate matters, including mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, venture capital and private equity financings, joint ventures, and other investment transactions with an emphasis on middle-market transactions. Chris represents financial sponsors and their portfolio companies, as well as strategic buyers in connection with mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, growth equity financings, and other investment transactions. Prior to joining Benesch, Chris practiced at Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP in New York, New York.

Panelists:

Dave Billiter
Founder
Deep Lens, Inc.

Dave has a diverse background spanning his 20-year career in healthcare and life sciences, in both large corporations and start-ups. Prior to leading the creation of Deep Lens, Inc, Dave was the Director of Data Strategy for Cardinal Health (Fortune 500-Rank #14) where he developed data monetization strategies and new product development for the pharmaceutical and health care provider partners.

Before joining Cardinal Health, Dave was the first employee for Signet Accel a start-up company, spun out of The Ohio State University, where he led operations and business development supporting its federated data integration platform.

The impetus for Deep Lens, Inc. came with Dave’s tenure as the Director of Informatics at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

For over 10 years Dave led the innovative technology development that supported the Institute, primarily The Biopathology Center. Dave was a member of the Children’s Oncology Group, Gynecologic Oncology Group, and Southwest Oncology Group where his team managed the biospecimen data management and digital pathology reviews supporting the large cancer consortia.

Marc Elberson
Vice President
Stonehenge Partners

Marc C. Elberson, Vice President at Stonehenge Partners, is responsible for negotiating transaction terms, performing due diligence, and providing analytical support for Stonehenge transactions and, for existing investments, working with Portfolio Company management teams, and monitoring Portfolio Company performance. Stonehenge Partners is an Ohio‐based private equity firm that focuses exclusively on the lower middle market. Stonehenge was founded in 1999 and has raised over $1.3 billion across six institutional funds.

Prior to joining Stonehenge Partners in January 2019, Mr. Elberson was a Transaction Advisory Senior Consultant with Plant Moran. Prior to this experience, Mr. Elberson was an Assurance Senior with Ernst & Young. Mr. Elberson graduated summa cum laude from Miami University where he received his B.S. in Accounting and Finance. Mr. Elberson also holds a CPA license (active status).

Julia Papastavridis
Managing Director
Aon

Based in New York City, Julia Papastavridis is a Managing Director on Aon's M&A and Transaction Solutions team. Julia is an experienced corporate attorney and M&A insurance broker with a demonstrated history of work in transactional risk in the insurance industry. Julia also brings extensive experience to Aon from her prior positions as a representations & warranties insurance underwriter at AIG and at Everest.

Before joining the insurance industry, Julia was a corporate M&A associate at the law firms of Kramer Levin and Dentons in New York City. Julia earned her J.D. from University of Michigan Law School and M.B.A. from the Institut Administration des Entreprises in Lyon, France.

Brian Zuercher
Co-founder & CEO
Align

Brian is the Co-founder and CEO of Align. At Align we equip organizations with data about their workforce to redesign their full work experience — from real estate optimization to remote policies.

Conference Location

401 North High Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Tel: (614) 384-8600