Transaction Preparedness: Maximizing Deal Success—The First 100 Days and Potential Deal Killers / Confidence Builders
Presented By: BMO Capital Markets / ZRG Partners
Successful M&A outcomes aren’t just forged in due diligence—they’re shaped in the months leading up to the launch of a sale process. This panel explores the underappreciated phase before the deal process even begins, when financial prep work, team readiness, leadership and expectation alignment, capital structure modeling, and go-to-market strategy refinements set the tone for what’s to come. From organizational readiness to early-stage deal calibration, learn how companies and their advisors set the stage for smoother transactions, stronger integration, and optimal returns.
Moderator:
Director
BMO Middle Market M&A
Focus on Food and Beverage and Pet Products and Services
Panelists:
Vice President, Investments
Manna Tree
Drew Connor is a Vice President at Manna Tree and is responsible for all aspects of growth equity investments, including due diligence, transaction execution and investment monitoring.
Prior to joining Manna Tree, Drew worked at Proterra Investment Partners, an alternative investment manager focused on private equity investments in food and agriculture. Previously, Drew was a member of the Consumer group at Harris Williams. He also worked in corporate finance roles at several companies across the consumer space, including General Mills and L Brands. Drew graduated from the Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics.
In his free time, Drew enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, getting outside for a bike ride or round of golf, and exploring new restaurants.
Managing Partner, Global Private Equity Practice Leader
ZRG Partners
Richard Herman brings a strong track record of successful senior-level search engagements to the Private Equity Practice at ZRG Partners. His focus is building world-class management teams and helping investors maximize returns by recruiting transformational senior leaders. He has worked across a variety of industries, including Industrial Manufacturing, Food and Ingredients, Consumer Goods, Professional and Consumer Services, as well as Healthcare and Life Sciences.
Richard focuses on supporting Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officers to build best-in-class teams by recruiting for all senior-level finance positions. The core of his practice revolves around recruiting Chief Financial Officers, Chief Accounting Officers/Corporate Controllers, Treasurers, Internal Audit leaders, Tax management, and other division finance executives.
Prior to joining ZRG Partners, Richard led recruiting and portfolio talent management at American Capital, a premier middle-market private equity fund and alternative asset manager based in Bethesda, MD with over $24 billion in assets under management. In this role, he partnered with investment leaders and portfolio company executives to drive senior-level hiring and talent management for American Capital's varied portfolio companies.
Richard received his BA in Business Administration from Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA.
President
Form-A-Feed
Mike Hodgens brings over 30 years of hands-on experience across the food value chain. With a background rooted in Chemical Engineering and fortified by an Executive MBA, Mike has guided B2B food, animal health, and specialty crop input manufacturers to profitable growth through a combination of organic and inorganic strategies. He has experience in both buying and selling businesses. Mike served as President and CEO of QualiTech, leading the company through a successful sale process to private equity in 2023. In his current role as President of Form-A-Feed, a leading animal health company Mike focuses on expanding the business through strategic acquisitions.
Mike also serves as a board member to non-profit and private companies and is the co-founder of Executive Consulting Partners, a strategic consultancy firm focused on the food value chain.