Mastering Deal Readiness: Your Playbook for Leverage
Presented By: Armstrong Teasdale LLP / Wipfli
Leverage isn't found at the negotiating table—it’s built in the months leading up to it. From auditing your financials to stress-testing your deal structure, preparation is the ultimate competitive advantage. We’re unpacking the "Deal Ready" framework with insights from both sides of the aisle. Discover what buyers actually look for, how to tell a story that sticks, and why the right team is your greatest asset in any transaction.
Moderator:
St. Louis Market Leader
Wipfli
Adam Herman has over 30 years of experience in supporting new business growth nationwide through his leadership, creativity, energy, integrity, networking skills and credentials, which are highly respected among valuation, IRS and business professionals. As a market leader, he oversees an elite group of professionals, including CPAs, valuation analysts, forensic experts, engineers and technical writers, in the fastest-growing areas of public accounting today.
Panelists:
Vice President, Business Development
Compass Group Equity Partners
Jonathan Babcock joined Compass Group in 2022 and is responsible for sourcing and evaluating new investment opportunities.
Prior to joining Compass Group, Jonathan worked in various roles providing strategic guidance to private equity groups and their portfolio companies. Jonathan began his career working in buy-side and sell-side investment banking, leading target identification on both platform and add-on acquisitions for private equity groups and corporations collectively managing over $1B in committed capital. Additionally, Jonathan provided transaction support for senior-level deal managers including financial modeling, valuations, and industry research for companies ranging from $50M to $250M.
Jonathan holds a B.A. in Accounting from MidAmerica Nazarene University and is an MBA Candidate at Washington University in St. Louis Olin Business School.
Partner
Armstrong Teasdale
Paul Cambridge is a Partner at Armstrong Teasdale in St. Louis, specializing in mergers and acquisitions, corporate and securities matters, and lending transactions. He represents a diverse range of clients, from entrepreneurial startups to large publicly traded companies. Paul’s practice is particularly focused on the financial services sector, advising banks, bank holding companies, credit unions, and mortgage companies. He also works with clients in private equity, venture capital, technology, manufacturing, and real estate.
Vice President
Wipfli
Cody Hedstrom is a Vice President with over 8 years of experience in finance, consulting, M&A, and investment banking advisory. He has supported more than $1B of investment banking transactions across a diverse set of industries including healthcare, technology, software-as-a-service (SaaS), consumer, and diversified industrials. Cody focuses on advising private, middle-market companies and their shareholders on mergers and acquisitions, valuation, transition, and strategic planning matters.
Operating Partner
SixThirty Ventures
Doug joins SixThirty as an experienced operator, investor and advisor. Most recently, Doug served as CEO of Denim Social, leading the company through three acquisitions, a re-brand, two rounds of VC funding, and successfully exited the business in 2023. Doug works closely with portfolio company founders to drive efficiency, maximize resources and support growth.