Inside the Sell-Side Process: Strategy, Storytelling, and Getting the Deal Done
Presented By: Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff / MelCap Partners, LLC
What does it really take to sell a business—successfully? This session breaks down the mechanics of the sell-side process through the lens of recent transactions, examining how sellers prepared, positioned their companies, and executed on exit strategies. Hear insights from both founders and investors on navigating international hurdles, managing tariff risk, and delivering the kind of narrative that drives competitive outcomes.
Moderator:
Partner
Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff LLP
Chris has diverse experience representing top-tier leveraged buyout and private equity funds, fund sponsors and investors, and their portfolio companies, as well as founders, entrepreneurs and sellers. 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.
Panelists:
Director
Stonehenge Partners
Sean P. Dunn is a Director at Stonehenge Partners (“Stonehenge”), a leading middle-market private equity firm based in Columbus, OH. Founded in 1999, Stonehenge has raised nearly $1.4 billion in committed capital and is currently investing out of its fifth institutional fund. Sean joined Stonehenge in 2019 and is responsible for initiating investment opportunities, structuring acquisitions, performing due diligence, working with portfolio company management teams, and managing the disposition of Stonehenge investments. Sean represents Stonehenge on the board of directors of Cold Jet Technologies, EXAIR, Salon Freedom and True North Asphalt.
Prior to joining Stonehenge, Sean was a Director with Robert W. Baird & Co. (“Baird”) in the Global Investment Banking Group, where he specialized in capital raising, M&A and other financial advisory services. During Sean’s tenure at Baird, he helped lead the successful execution of financial advisory mandates representing over $7 billion in aggregate transaction value, including debt financings, buy-side and sell-side M&A, fairness opinions and other corporate finance assignments. Previously, Sean was an Assistant Vice President at Red Capital Group (ORIX USA), where he was responsible for originating, structuring, and underwriting debt and equity financings for multifamily housing.
Sean received his M.B.A., with high honors, from the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame and earned his B.S.B.A in Economics, with distinction, from The Ohio State University.
Director & Principal
MelCap Partners, LLC
Anthony is responsible for the management of MelCap’s investment banking engagements. In his role, Anthony manages the firm’s clients, deal processes, buyers and investors, and investment banking staff. Anthony also manages and supports the development of the firm’s offering memorandums, financial analysis and models, industry research, and proposals.
