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NOVEMBER 13-16, 2023
New Orleans, LA
The Roosevelt New Orleans Hotel
Going Forward: Industry M&A and Recent Investments & Innovations
Wednesday, November 16
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Using Mergers & Acquisitions to Protect and Grow Your Business Value in a World of Disruptive Change

Did you know that 25% of middle market business owners will contemplate an M & A transaction in the next 24 months?

Business owners in the AHP industry are faced with more and faster changes today than ever before. Challenged as you attempt to deal with increased complexities and choices in the environment in which you compete

Most are not aware of the tools that are available to deal with these complexities as they face consolidation, increased competition, new technologies or decreased loyalty. Standing still is not an option and the traditional principles of managing the challenges of running a business no longer apply.

We will explore what the M & A landscape looks like today and into the near and long term for this industry and as a whole.

Then focus on how business owners need to think and act differently and be prepared to react quickly to changes. How you anticipate and respond to accelerating change will determine whether your business will be a beneficiary or victim of the underlying disruption.

Attendee Value

Attendees will gain insight into the M&A process. You will learn how to prepare your company for a sale or an acquisition and how to maximize value from the transaction.

Key Decisions:

•     How do I build value in my company?

•     Do I sell or do I grow?

•     What is my business worth?

Participants will learn strategies to:

•     Identify the "hidden" value within your company

•     Discover the 8 Core Drivers that determine business value

•     Manage risk and hedge against the unknown

•     Leverage mergers and acquisitions as a positive change agent to stay ahead of the competition

You will leave feeling better equipped to not only protect your company but maximize its value in the current environment.

LaPorta

» Len LaPorta

Managing Director, The DAK Group

BIOGRAPHY

Len LaPorta has a rare combination of skills developed as a former hands-on business owner turned investment banker. He has spent years “on the shop floor”, and truly understands the ins and outs of business ownership which serves as a strong foundation enabling him to appreciate the needs of both buyers and sellers. He successfully assists business owners in determining and achieving their best next move.

In his 30-year career, Mr. LaPorta has advised on and negotiated numerous transactions in a wide range of diverse industries including artificial intelligence (IoT), autonomous vehicles, manufacturing, industrial, capital equipment, composite materials, powder metal, industrial technology, HVAC, non-woven fabrics, machine tooling, contract machining, precision machining, stamping and fabrication sectors. He has a keen sense for companies that produce highly engineered products.

Len is an expert in developing competitive sell-side strategies leading to multiple bidders. He has a global network that has facilitated strong cross-border deal flow and execution. This earned him both the M&A Atlas Cross Border Deal of the Year Award and M&A Advisor Corporate/Strategic Deal of Year ($50M to $100M) for Lapmaster’s acquisition of Peter Wolters GmbH from Lam Research creating one of the world’s largest capital equipment providers of lapping, polishing and grinding equipment.

Over the last decade, Len has been the trusted advisor to dozens of founders and multi-generational family business owners. He has a talent for generating a series of options then guiding owners to make the best decision for their business and their family.

Prior to joining The DAK Group, Mr. LaPorta was a Managing Director at Pickwick Capital Partners, an Investment Bank where he headed the Diversified Industrial & Manufacturing sector. Prior to that, he was a Managing Director at other investment banking firms, including Capstone Headwaters and Cypress Associates. He was the Owner of Crystal R&D, Inc. a precision contract manufacturing firm specializing in medical devices, aerospace and highly engineered products. Through two mergers he transformed the company from an “old-line” regional manufacturer to a top-of-the-line global supplier to CR Bard.

Mr. LaPorta proudly served in the United States Navy for five years as a Surface Warfare Officer.

He holds an MBA from Boston College and a BS degree from the U. S. Naval Academy. In addition, he is registered with FINRA for both Series 79 and 63 licenses. Len competes in Triathlons for Team-n-Training, in support of the Leukemia Lymphoma Society.