Mergers and Acquisitions: The Keys to Success and a Market Update
6:00 pm to 7:00 pm: Networking reception and registration
7:00 pm to 8:30 pm: Panel discussion and Q&A
Quadrus Conference Center
2400 Sand Hill Road
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Harvard Club Members: $35
Non-Members: $45
November 9, 2011
Mergers and acquisitions can be complex and difficult, both for buyers and sellers. What should buyers be looking at to create value? How about sellers who are looking to exit at the right time and price? What potential pitfalls and strategies are you overlooking? The discussion will include special considerations in today's challenging economic environment. Whether you are an entrepreneur, corporate development executive, a venture capitalist or private equity investor, or a professional who advises on M&A, you are sure to walk away with the latest thinking on how to make M&A work.
CONFIRMED PANELISTS (additional panelists to be confirmed):
Owen O'Keeffe, Executive Director, Morgan Stanley | Investment Banking Division
Owen O'Keeffe is a M&A investment banker with 12 years of experience in the technology sector, currently advising clients on M&A strategy and execution in a variety of sub-sectors including software, internet, communications equipment and semiconductors. His transaction experience includes sell-side, buy-side and cross-border M&A advisory, joint venture structuring, activist and hostile defense, LBOs, equity, debt and convertible financings, and debt restructuring. He has been involved in over 50 deals aggregating $45+ billion of value, including 3 of the 10 largest cash M&A deals ever completed in the tech sector. Mr. O'Keeffe holds an AB in Economics from Harvard College.
Lawrence Chu, Partner, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
Larry Chu is a partner in the mergers and acquisitions practice of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. He has represented numerous domestic and foreign public and private companies in mergers and acquisitions, dispositions, and corporate finance transactions across various industries, including technology and telecom, biotechnology, oil and gas, industrial products, banking and financial services, and asset management. He has also represented a number of private equity funds in connection with the acquisition of, and investment in, certain public and private portfolio companies, as well as banking clients in connection with their roles as financial advisor and dealer/manager on M&A transactions. Larry holds a B.A. in Commerce and Finance from the University of Western Ontario, and a LL.B. from Osgoode Hall Law School.
Steve Singer, Partner, Greenstein, Rogoff, Olsen & Co.
Steven Singer joined Greenstein, Rogoff, Olsen & Co. in 2003 and has more than 26 years experience in venture and corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, high net worth individual, corporate and partnership taxation and strategic planning. Prior to joining the firm, Steve was V.P. of Finance for Callixa, an enterprise-based data integration software provider where he was responsible for all corporate finance and accounting issues. Steve holds a B.S. degree in Business from U.C. Berkeley and a Masters degree in taxation from Golden Gate University.
Villi Iltchev, Senior Director of Strategy and Corporate Development at Salesforce.com.
Villi Iltchev is responsible for driving acquisitions and investment strategies for Salesforce.com and has executed key growth acquisitions such as Jigsaw, Heroku, Sitemasher, Etacts, and Navajo Systems.
Villi is an experienced Corporate Development professional with years of experience leading M&A, investments, and strategic initiatives. His focus and specialties include corporate finance, divestitures, venture capital, defining inorganic strategy, identifying and evaluating acquisition targets, structuring and negotiating deals, and integrating companies. Prior to Salesforce.com, Villi was the Senior Manager of Strategy and Corporate Development at Hewlett-Packard and Vice President at Merrill Lynch & Co.
Villi holds a B.S. in Accounting from Erskine College, a M.P.A. from Clemson University, and his M.B.A. from the University of Virginia.
Moderator: Jennifer Lee, Founder and Managing Director, Capstone Advisory Partners
Jenn Lee is the founder and managing director of Capstone Advisory Partners, which provides M&A advisory services, capital raises, and private equity offerings. Jenn is a seasoned investment banker and principal investor with a notable track record in investment banking, capital markets, finance, strategy and operations. Lee spent a decade on Wall Street as a senior investment banker where she worked at Goldman Sachs, Jefferies Group, Inc. (previously Broadview Associates) and ThinkEquityPartners. Jenn holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Tufts University, and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
SPONSOR: Morgan Stanley | Investment Banking Division
CO-SPONSOR: Palo Alto Area Bar Association
Qualifies for 1.0 hours California MCLE credit.