Date: April 26, 2018

Time: 6:00pm-8:00pm

Location: New York Yankees Steakhouse: 7 W 51st St, New York, NY 10019

Pricing: 

• Opus Connect Members: No Charge
• Non-Members (On or before April 21st): $225
• Non-Members (On or after April 22nd): $250

Mix and mingle at the NYC Chapter Spring Social! Have a drink and enjoy some refreshments.

Panel Topics: 

1. Private Equity Panel –  Best Practices for Utilizing your Operating Partners
2. Executive Panel – Behind the Veil: Entrepreneurs’ Thought Process in Selecting a Financial Sponsor
3. Investment Banker Panel – State of the M&A Market

Date: March 20, 2018

Times:

Private Equity Panel 2:00pm – 3:00pm

Executive Panel 3:00pm – 4:00pm

Investment Banker Panel 4:00pm – 5:00pm

Cocktail Reception 5:00pm – 7:00pm

Location: Lowenstein Sandler – 1251 Ave of the Americas, New York, NY 10020

Pricing (includes attendance to all three panels): 

• Opus Connect Members: No Charge
• Non-Members: $500

Private Equity Panel Summary: 

In recent years, private equity firms are relying less on financial engineering and more on operational improvements to maximize the growth of their portfolio companies. As a result, operating partners have become an increasingly more important role at all types of PE firms. Some firms may bring them on as full-time employees, while others use them in an advisory role. How do investors find these operators? How do they partner with them to evaluate investment opportunities? And then how are they utilized once the deal is closed? Hear the answers to these questions and more from some of today’s leading Consumer Goods private equity investors. There will be time at the end of the discussion for Q&A with the audience.

Moderator: 

Daniel Zweben, Director at Lazard

Panelists:

Jeff Palmese, Principal at Sandbridge Capital, LLC

Geoffrey D. Lurie, President/ COO at TRAUB

Daniel Schultz, Vice President at Webster Capital

Executive Panel Summary:

A lively discussion among successful female entrepreneurs who have each partnered with private equity sponsors. The panelists will be speaking to their thoughts behind their selection process, what points are important to them, and how they selected their partners.

Moderator: 

Steven Siesser, Partner at Lowenstein Sandler LLP

Panelists:

Debra Strougo, Co-Founder/President of Row House

Anne Mahlum, Founder/Owner/CEO of [solidcore]

Annbeth Eschbach, CEO, President of Exhale Spa

Investment Banker Panel Summary:

2017 was a strong year for M&A activity in the Consumer Goods industry. With multiples at continuously high levels, accommodative credit markets, and record amounts of dry powder in PE funds, our panel of investment bankers will share their thoughts on short and long-term future for M&A activity in this industry. They will provide tips for owners considering a sale, as well as address such questions as: How do bankers find and engage clients in the Consumer Goods industry? What can investors do to position themselves favorably with bankers and sellers? What are some of the common challenges for investors in this segment? What can investors do to maximize their chances for success? Q&A will follow.

Moderator:

Richard Baum, Managing Partner at Consumer Growth Partners

Panelists:

Peter Formanek, Managing Partner at Young America Capital

Doug Conrod, Managing Director at Ducera Partners LLC

Bob Frisch, President at Frisch Capital Partners

Date: December 7, 2017

Time: 5:00pm- 7:00pm

Location: Croton Reservoir Tavern – 108 W 40th St, New York, NY 10018

Pricing: 

• Opus Connect Members: No Charge
• Non-Members (On or before November 30th): $225
• Non-Members (On or after December 1st): $250

Mix and mingle at the NYC Chapter Winter Social! Have a drink, enjoy some refreshments, and help us close out 2017!

Topic: Independent Sponsor or Broker: How Independent Sponsors Can Add Value to Deals

Date: November 7, 2017

Time: 12:00pm-2:00pm

Location: Bernstein 1345 Avenue of the Americas (41st Fl.) New York, NY 10105

Pricing: 

• Opus Connect Members: No Charge
• Non-Members (On or before November 10th): $225
• Non-Members (On or after November 11th): $250

Summary:

More independent sponsors are entering the lower middle market each year. Some are former fund investors, others are former operators, and fewer are both. As capital providers shift strategies to look for new and creative ways to deploy their capital, partnership with independent sponsors on deals is an increasingly attractive model. But in the absence of a relationship, how can a check writer build quick trust with an independent sponsor? And besides the actual deal, what can the independent sponsor bring to the table to add value throughout the life of the investment?

Join some of the country’s leading lower middle market capital providers and seasoned independent sponsors to hear them share their experiences and suggestions for building successful partnerships. Following the panel, questions are encouraged from the audience.

Moderator: 

Dan Lee, Managing Director at Comvest Partners

Panelists:

Tom Henderson, President & CEO at Accord Financial Corp

Doug Bunim, Director at OFS Capital

Jacques Youssefmir, Partner at Ocean Avenue Capital

Gerry Debiasi, Partner at Kidd & Co.

Topic: NYC Deal Connect: Independent Sponsors

Date: November 6th, 2017

Time: 11:30 AM – 7:00 PM

Location: Lowenstein Sandler LLP, 1251 Ave of the Americas, New York, NY 10020

Opus Connect is excited to announce its NYC Deal Connect speed-networking event with independent sponsors. This exclusive event is hosted by Lowenstein Sandler LLP and includes highly interactive rotations of brief one-on-one meetings between independent sponsors and capital providers. All attendees are pre-selected to ensure quality and facilitate deal making in an efficient manner.

If you are interested in attending, please complete an application by clicking on the button above. Please note that applying does not guarantee your attendance at Deal Connect, and a brief introductory phone call may be scheduled by Opus Connect staff.

This event is one of twelve Fall 2017 Deal Connect events presented by Opus Connect.

Schedule: 

Registration/Lunch: 11:30am – 1:00pm
Meetings: 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Break: 3:00pm – 3:30pm
Meetings: 3:30pm – 5:30pm
Cocktail Reception: 5:30pm – 7:00pm

Benefits for participants:

• Meet a range of independent sponsors and capital providers firms located across the country through concentrated and efficient one-on-one meetings and a networking reception
• Save time finding deal partners: 12 meetings, each strictly 20 minutes long
• Panel featuring several of our sponsors immediately following the last meetings
• Sponsorship opportunities available

“The private equity firms and family offices that we’ve met at Deal Connect understand our business model and are serious about investing with us. These events are an indispensable resource for our firm.”
-Steve Reinstadtler, SR Capital Advisors

Pricing: 

(Early registration ends September 20th)

• Additional attendees are assessed a $100 fee.
• Priority for Capital Providers will be given to Opus Connect members. Non-members will be placed on a waitlist and accepted at the non-member price if there is space available.
• All attendees must pre-register. Absolutely no walk-ins will be accepted.

Topic: Family Offices: An Increased Appetite for Direct Investing

Date: October 18, 2017

Time: 12:00pm-2:00pm

Location: New York Marriott Marquis – 1535 Broadway (Manhattan Ballroom, 8th Floor) New York, NY 10036

Pricing: 

• Opus Connect Members: No Charge
• Non-Members (On or before October 13th): $225
• Non-Members (On or after October 14th): $250

Summary:

The rise of family office direct investing presents opportunities and challenges for the family office as well as for the traditional private equity firms and lenders who partner with them. This panel will discuss the latest trends in family office investment strategies and opportunities, as well as handling investment issues such as selecting co-investment partners, management, control, fees and exit issues, and best practices to getting deals closed. Whether you’re a family office wanting to network and hear about current best practices or a co-investor with family offices, this will be a great event to attend. Seats will be limited and service provider attendees will be limited to our members and sponsors.

Moderator: 

Timothy Frazier, Vice President at TriNet

Panelists:

Bill Fradin, Managing Partner at Seal Rock Partners

Wendy Craft, COO at Favara, LLC

Jolyne Caruso, CEO at The Alberleen Group

Ira J. Perlmuter, Founder & Head of Family Office Direct Investing at T5 Equity Partners, LLC

Brian Choi, VP of Finance and Business Development at Woerner Holdings, Inc.

Topic: What’s Trending in Private Equity Investing and Fund-Raising

Date: September 19, 2017

Time: 6:00pm-8:00pm

Location: New York Marriott Marquis – 1535 Broadway Street (O’Neill Room, 4th floor) New York, NY 10036

Pricing: 

• Opus Connect Members: No Charge
• Non-Members (On or before September 14th): $225
• Non-Members (On or after September 15th): $250

Summary:

This panel of private equity professionals, including one of the leading limited partners in the middle market, will discuss the increasing role of limited partners and co-investment, innovative ways for deal sourcing, dealing with high valuations, industries to focus on and why, and what may lie ahead for the PE industry.  Come and learn from some of private equity industry’s leading experts.

Moderator: 

Marilyn Adler, Managing Director of Medley

Panelists:

Ilene Levinson, Principal at Hamilton Lane

Rachael A. Wagner, Managing Director at Atairos

Zeena H. Rao, Managing Director at ICV Partners

Suzanne Yoon, Founder & Managing Partner at Kinzie Capital Partners LLC

Beatrice Mitchell, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Sperry, Mitchell & Company

NYC: Summer Social

Date: August 9, 2017

Time: 6:00pm-8:00pm

Location: New York Yankees Steakhouse: 7 W 51st St, New York, NY 10019

Pricing: 

• Opus Connect Members: No Charge
• Non-Members (On or before August 4th): $225
• Non-Members (On or after August 5th): $250