Fueling Growth Through M&A: Building the Right Capital Stack
Presented By: PNC Bank / Warner Norcross + Judd LLP
Financing acquisitive growth often requires more than a single capital partner. In this session, investors, lenders, operators, and advisors explore how companies assemble the right mix of capital—from bank financing and private equity to mezzanine funding, family offices, and strategic investors. Hear how experienced dealmakers structure flexible capital stacks to fund acquisitions, support expansion, and bring the right partners to the table.
Panelists:
Executive Partner
Warner Norcross + Judd LLP
Josie Boucher is a partner at Warner Norcross + Judd LLP. Her practice focuses on venture capital transactions, structuring private securities offerings and counseling venture-backed companies. She represents emerging growth companies and individuals, and fund and corporate investors in venture capital financing transactions. Josie chairs Warner’s Funds and Investments Industry Group and is the Executive Partner of Warner’s Kalamazoo office.
Market Leader
PNC Bank
Kowalski manages PNC's middle market and corporate finance businesses in the region. In his prior role as Corporate Banking relationship manager, he was responsible for business development and portfolio management for middle market business clients in SE Michigan. Kowalski has 18 years of corporate banking experience, including eight with PNC. He earned a bachelor's in Finance from Michigan State University and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Detroit Mercy.
Managing Partner
HighGrove Companies
Sean is the Founder of HighGrove Companies, a private equity firm operating in the lower middle market, focused on investments in the consumer products, consumer serivces and business services markets. Sean leads HighGrove's investment activities and portfolio company management. Sean currently sits on the board of HighGrove's 4 portfolio companies - Express Flooring, All Star Driver Education, MediaTechnologies, and Store Your Board.
President & CEO
Guardian Alarm
Brent D. Uhl is the President & Chief Executive Officer at Guardian Alarm, bringing extensive leadership to the security sector. In this role, he oversees business strategy formulation and guide the company's overall direction.