Smart Business Dealmakers: The Middle-Market M&A Podcast

Deals trickled in during the early days of the COVID crisis. But as dealmakers settled into the new reality, the volume increased. With it, investors sought greater risk mitigation to ensure deals got done with fewer lingering issues of uncertainty. Aon Transaction Solutions Senior Managing Director Matthew Heinz discusses the rise of reps and warranties, plus how new types of insurance solutions...

Brock Leonti and his company Prescribe FIT went looking to land a new round of funding this year. While cash is certainly a factor, taking on investors isn't just about the money. It's also about the intellectual capital those funders are able to contribute. Operating in the health care field where physicians are skeptical of new technologies, that investor knowledge could prove to be invaluable f...

Park Place Technologies President and CEO Chris Adams discusses his perspective on the market, and shares his sense of what's likely to be on the minds of dealmakers through the balance of a year plagued by uncertainty.

Pineapple Payments is trying to look beyond just the financials to find fit. That means understanding exactly who they're investing in because every acquisition is an opportunity to learn from those who have been acquired. But those learnings won't show up in a quality of earnings report. They're discovered through conversation. President Jon Halpern talks about his company's acquisition and integ...

Bob Campana, CEO of Campana Capital, says a good deal is a good deal regardless of what else is happening in the market. But he also recognizes that both sides should look to protect themselves from the next globally disruptive event with careful deal terms that give both sides the peace of mind needed to transact. Campana offers his take on the current state of dealmaking and when he expects anyt...

John Rowady had readiness in mind as he built his sports marketing firm, rEvolution. But there's no readiness rule book for a global pandemic, particularly one in which sports across the globe stopped completely. In this episode Rowady talks about how he coached his team up to deal with the unprecedented disruption, and how now is the ideal time for meaningful acquisitions that could set a busines...

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a lot of challenges in the dealmaking space. Still, dealmakers are on the lookout for opportunities – and Kassel Equity Group Managing Partner Brett Motherwell says there are opportunities to be had. However, he says dealmaking during the pandemic is all about mitigating M&A risks through careful deal structures.

David Grigsby is founding partner of TBS Falcon and recently became chairman and CEO of Gas It Up. He shares his insights on how the pandemic has affected M&A — buyers, due diligence and the deal timeline — and how the competition for troubled companies is shaping up.

Deb May, founder of Wholesale Supplies Plus, sold her business last year and stepped away from the company this past January. It was difficult. Of course there were challenges with laying the groundwork for her exit and the process of finding a private equity buyer, but the real difficulty was letting a part of herself go — and finding purpose in the after-business life.

In the wake of a global pandemic, the talent management industry has either spiked or stalled, depending on the sector. Emily Biscardi, founder and CEO of Xelerate, discusses what's changed, and how she and other mid-market entrepreneurs are navigating today's challenging environment.

As special education software company n2y transitioned to a new PE sponsor in late 2019, it signaled the start of the next stage of the company's lifecycle. CEO Chrissy Wostmann discusses the transition, vetting PE firms and her take on M&A opportunities in today's market.

The future of healthcare is one that's suddenly become not only a moving target but one of the most important industry sectors in the nation. Tim Barry, co-founder and CEO of VillageMD, discusses what that future is starting to look like in a more virtual telemedicine world, and what that means for healthcare-related dealmaking.

Matt Davis was in the middle of a big expansion of his co-working company COhatch, discussing in early March plans to open new locations across multiple states and expand services for his 20,000-plus members. One week later, the world changed. The COhatch CEO discusses why he sees opportunity in a post-COVID-19 world and what makes him so optimistic.

Catherine Mott knows a thing or two about dealmaking. She's been an entrepreneur and investor. As founder and CEO of BlueTree Capital, she discusses what the Pittsburgh early stage market looks like, and how it's changing heading into 2021.

There is nothing quite like good timing when it comes to dealmaking. Jim Pshock, founder and CEO of Bravo Wellness, discusses the January 2020 sale of his company before the COVID crisis, and why its future — including new acquisitions — looks bright.

The private equity markets remain strong for sellers whose fundamentals remain strong or are in industries that are thriving during the crisis and are still looking to get deals done. Wes Day, a partner at Teall Capital Partners, talks about where the deals are — and what CEOs should be focused on today and into the future.

The COVID-19 crisis has had profound impact on the private equity markets. Stephen Cook, co-founder and Executive Managing Director of LFM Capital, discusses where the deal flow is, how capital markets have changed, and the effect on LFM's portfolio companies.

Before the COVID-19 crisis, the ability for CEOs to tell their companies' stories was paramount to their ability to break out from the noise. Dave Mastovich, founder and CEO of MASSolutions, discusses why honing your marketing message and storytelling ability has become even more critical in this new normal.

How have events in 2020 changed the acquisition pipeline of companies looking to grow through buy-side transactions? Jill Arena, founder & CEO of Arena Enterprises, shares her thoughts on what it will take to continue identifying, vetting and putting together deals for acquisitions over the next 12 to 18 months.

The future of wealth management looks bright, despite the current situation. Omar Qureshi, managing director, partner and an investment strategist at Hightower Advisors St. Louis, shares his insight on how business owners and high net worth individuals should re-evaluate their portfolios — and where the new opportunities are.

Investors have been hot and cold as the COVID-19 crisis creates uncertainty across the U.S. economy. Andrew Bishop, a director at AB Bernstein, discusses how investors are looking at wealth management solutions — and why there are greater opportunities than many people believe.  

The COVID-19 crisis has put a new emphasis on business interruption and continuity plans, as well as the insurance that covers them. Steven Scolari, partner with the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young and co-chair of the firm's closely held and family-owned business practice, discusses why what you planned for before requires a new focus — and a new plan — in the new normal.

The COVID-19 era has thrown a monkey wrench into traditional investment paths for entrepreneurs and high-net-worth individuals. Matt Hamilton, chairman and CEO of Hamilton Capital, says all does not need to be for naught. He discusses how investors should not only move forward in the current market, but how they should be looking at their greatest asset — their companies.

The massive market disruption and its impact on companies hasn't fundamentally altered how NewSpring Capital looks at deals. Business Development Partner Adam VeVerka discusses the current state of dealmaking and what has buyers' attention as they look for opportunities.

Closely held middle-market businesses are thinking about what's next for their companies as it relates to forecasting cash flow and new business opportunities. Ed Monborne, CEO of RKL, discusses what CEOs should be focused on and how his accounting and consulting firm has repositioned itself and its services to address changing concerns clients are facing during these challenging times.