EXITS AND THE ROLE OF THE CFO
As a part of the Discover phase of the value acceleration, the exit planning process and the exit execution itself, the financial potential of businesses to be sold must be maximized, and the accompanying financial risks must be mitigated. If businesses do not have an internal CFO with M&A experience to guide them, they typically engage one for this purpose. During the engagement the CFO develops financial and related operational knowledge that is used not only to maximize business potential but also becomes an essential part of disclosures made to potential buyers and in subsequent sales negotiations.
In the presentation you will learn when it is best to engage with a CFO, how and where the CFO goes to build the financial knowledge used in the exit, and the various roles the CFO plays in readying and supporting a business exit. Peter Aronstam will share some of his own experiences of exit deals gone right and wrong and what he has learned through the years to ensure a successful close. Learn tricks of the trade to help your business owners make a regretless choice.
Learning Objectives:
- Why are CFOs hired, and when is the best time to hire them
- What CFOs do to prepare a business for an exit
- How CFOs play a key role in of all phases of a business exit transaction
About the Presenter:
Hear from industry experts Peter Aronstam, CFO, Michael Schuster, MD, Cross Keys Capital, Marc Solomon, Partner, Chair of Business Transactions Division, Weiss Serota and Ivy Cohen.
Event Location
Event Details
Who Should Attend?
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Financial Advisors
One of the critical ‘legs of the stool’ is personal financing planning. An owner must have a strong financial plan & contingency plan post-transition to enable them to thrive in the next act of the lives personally and financially. Exit planning brings this future mindset into the present. Exit is now.
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Wealth Managers
You’re a skilled relationship person. Being entangled into your clients’ professional lives matters as you build a strategy to manage their wealth upon them harvesting it from their business. Exit planning allows you to build a deeper relationship with your client, expands your COI network, while giving you an early seat at table well before the liquidity event.
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CPAs/Accountants
Owners participating in the State of Owner Readiness research continue to indicate that you are the No. 1 "Most Trusted Advisor." You are a natural fit to lead the exit planning team and deepen your relationship (and retention) of next generation owners.
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Attorneys
You have close relationships with clients, and can benefit from being the first advisor to introduce the idea of exit planning.
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Valuation Analysts
Valuation is both a billable engagement AND an opportunity to provide owners some perspective on how to accelerate value drivers (and deal with value killers). Use exit planning to make that valuation into a longer term value acceleration engagement.
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Investment Bankers
Only 2 of every 10 businesses that come to market actually sell. Learn how exit planning can bring attractive AND ready business to your purview.
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Estate Planners
Exit planning is a natural fit for estate planners who want to operate more holistically with their owner clients.
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Strategic Consultants
One of the most critical roles in exit planning is building transferable value. Strategic consultants have the ability to expand options and drive rapid business value that affect performance today.
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Mergers & Acquisition Advisors
Proper exit planning causes less deals to fall through at the last minute. Connect with CEPAs to build your healthy deal flow network.
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Insurance Professionals
Exit planning addresses the 5 D's. So do you. Approach the risk conversation differently with exit planning.
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Commercial Lenders
One of the best relationships a business owner makes is with their banker. How can you help your corporate clients think about the future and ensure financial continuity? Answer: exit planning.
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Family Business Advisors
More than 50% of lower middle market business owners would prefer to transition to the next generation. Help them succeed with exit planning strategies.
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Other Professional Advisors
Regardless of your unique specialty, there is seat at the exit planning table for you. Learn more at www.EarnCEPA.com.
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Private Business Owners
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Members of Family Business Boards
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Professional Advisors
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Business Consultants
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Other Business Professionals
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Business Owners
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Business Owners & Their Trusted Advisors
EXIT PLANNING IS GOOD BUSINESS STRATEGY
The Exit Planning Institute, provides Financial Advisors, Accountants, Consultants, and other advisors of business owners with the critical education to differentiate themselves and add value to their existing client relationships through a credential, conference, courses, and content. Download the CEPA brochure for more information.
ABOUT THE PRESENTERS
Meet Michael Schuster:
Michael Schuster is a seasoned executive-entrepreneur and investment banker having significant experience founding, operating and exiting several businesses over the last 35 years. Today, Michael works closely with lower and middle market executives, entrepreneurs, owner/founders, and family-owned businesses identifying and optimizing well planned exits, recapitalizations, and divestitures typically ranging in revenues from $10 million to $200 million with EBITDA from $2 million to $20 million. Helping stakeholders realize a great outcome in a sell-side representation is what really provides Michael with the ultimate satisfaction in each transaction. Michael joined Cross Keys Capital’s industrial and manufacturing generalist practice in 2019 covering a broad range of industries including a concentration in the aviation and aerospace industry.
Prior experience includes, serving as a business intermediary at World Business Brokers, focusing on sell-side engagements for well-planned exits, including succession plans, retirement, partner separations, and unplanned life events. Prior to this, Michael’s career experience includes Executive Management and CFO of Super Transport, a $60 million middle market Logistics and Less-than-Truckload Freight Transportation business which he exited after twenty-five years. Super Transport was a startup which Michael helped grow to over 800 employees and 1,000pieces of equipment in seventeen facilities. Michael has also served as CEO of a nutritional supplement manufacturer and distributor, as well as Managing Partner/Officer of a real estate portfolio of industrial and special use properties. The entrepreneurial skills gained through owning and operating businesses enables Michael to identify with middle market companies and entrepreneurs as an effective hands-on advisor.
Michael earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Finance from the University of Miami with a double major in Supply Chain and Logistics/Transportation. Michael is a native of the state of Connecticut and made his way down to Florida over 40 years ago. When not laser-focused on completing an M&A transaction, Michael enjoys spending time with his beautiful wife traveling around the world now that his three incredible children are following in his footsteps by leading successful careers.
Meet Peter Aronstam:
Peter Aronstam brings more than 35 years of experience in business exits and acquisitions, accounting, finance, banking, and international trade to his clients. His career is marked by a progression of senior finance roles with growth and performance-driven companies, including global banks, large international manufacturers and chief financial officer roles in a variety of emerging growth companies. He is a decisive, focused, and versatile financial executive with uncompromising integrity.
Peter has served as a CFO advisor in a number of industries and businesses. His background includes M&A head of a Fortune 500 company; CFO of start-up VC-backed entrepreneurial companies; manufacturing, technology and service companies; CFO of public companies; corporate and international banking in major multinational banks; managing HR and IT functions; and raising debt and equity for his companies and their customers.
Peter’s diverse background gives him skills to resolve issues not only in the financial arena, but also to assist business owners in analyzing and improving most areas of their business operations. As an entrepreneurial and analytical C-level finance officer, he has taken existing companies and improved their processes, controls, procedures and profitability.
Peter has been involved in the structuring and execution of numerous business acquisitions and exits, and his legal education gives him the valuable ability to interpret and negotiate contracts and ensure that deal terms clearly match the parties' intentions. Peter’s CFO experience helps support business owners who are preparing their businesses for exit or transition. He knows the factors that drive higher valuations and multiples, and he has the hands-on experience to design and execute changes that will increase valuations. He has also dealt with companies with high growth rates and companies that have run into financial problems and have had to downsize. He has many years of expertise in developing financial forecasts that have been used to raise capital and support business plans. His teaching experience and background in developing investor relations programs have created communication skills to equip him to work with investors, boards of directors, and personnel at all company levels to create timely financial reports, implement internal controls, utilize software solutions to reduce costs and generate accurate financial and tax reporting systems. He understands how to take complex strategies and communicate them in a way that makes it easy for others to understand and execute.
Born in South Africa, Peter earned his Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Law and PhD from the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa. Peter has worked in South Africa, Canada, and the USA. He currently lives in Boca Raton, FL.
Meet Ivy Cohen:
I help business owners achieve their goals. From working with all sizes of companies at PricewaterhouseCoopers, to leading the accounting departments of multiple family-owned businesses, I have realized my passion for helping business owners grow their businesses through managing by the numbers. If you're interested in seeing what's possible for your business, feel free to reach out to me at: ivy@businessprofitadvisors.com