Private Equity Fast Pitch

Kirk Fleischer, a veteran in deal sourcing and business development, has made waves at Investcorp since 2016. In this discussion, he sheds light on Investcorp's unique funding strategies and its innovative approach to private equity investments. He also tackles liquidity solutions for family businesses, emphasizing the importance of partnering wisely. Aspiring finance professionals will gain insights on the critical role of education and networking in advancing their careers. Kirk's experience brings a fresh perspective on the distinct qualities that set Investcorp apart.

Episode 39 features David Walker with EBSCO Industries. David is a graduate of Auburn University where he earned a B.S. in Accounting.   He started his career as a CPA with Ernst and Young and later worked for PJ America as VP and Corporate Controller until joining EBSCO Industries in 2000.   David has served EBSCO in a variety of capacities over the past 19 years and currently serves as its President and CEO.  EBSCO is a global company with businesses in a range of industries including Information Services, Outdoor Products, Real Estate, Manufacturing and Distribution, and Business Services.  EBSCO is consistently ranked in the top 3 of Alabama based privately held firms.   David is active in community affairs and currently serves on the boards of Auburn University, Harbert College of Business, Junior Achievement, City of Vestavia Hills, Mayor Financial Advisory Committee, The Distribution Point, and McKinney Capital. David is an outdoor enthusiast, avid reader, and enjoys travel with his wife, Lindy, and their three children. 000006ED 000006E7 0000D417 0000D417 000F2B0F 000F2B0F 0000811B 000080F1 00135B82 0005C9D6

For this episode, we’ve created a montage of our past podcast guests providing their advice to recent graduates interested in investing banking or private equity. 000002EE 000002EB 00023385 00023385 001DB7C1 001DB7C1 00007F7C 00007F7A 00246215 00246215

In 2012, Anttila founded Grain & Barrel Spirits, a West Palm Beach-based beverage alcohol company. At home in the Southeast with production and sales partners around the world, Grain & Barrel Spirits is an innovative, emerging company with wholly owned brands including Dixie Southern Vodkawhich Anttila created from scratchand which won of a 2019 “Rising Star” Growth Brands Award from the Beverage Dynamics magazine;pre-Prohibition favorite Chicken Cock Whiskey, which Anttila resurrected; and Endless Summer Rum.  Last year Grain & Barrel launched Dixie WildflowerHoney in partnership with the Savannah Bee Companyand its Charleston-based non-profit, The Bee Cause, which installs observation hives worldwide with the mission to develop future stewards of the planet. On a personal note, Anttila is a board member of Piper’s Angels, a foundation which has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the cystic fibrosis community. Their annual Father’s Day event, Crossing for a Cure, is an 80-mile open-sea paddle board crossing from the Bahamas to Florida; in 2018, Anttila made the crossing solo in 16 hours, and he is looking forward to this year’s event.   Anttila’s career began in 2001, as an analyst for J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. Four years later, he found himselfin São Paulo, Brazil where he founded Cabana Cachaça, which by 2011 was named one of the top 50 spirits in the world by Wine Enthusiast magazine.From 2015 onward, Anttila straddled the finance and CPG industries, marrying the two through his investment company North End Commerce which holds Anttila’s companiesGrain & Barrel Spirits, licensing company Cloudbreak Brands, and food and snack focused Intercoastal Brands.   Anttila attended Amherst College and lives in West Palm Beach, Florida, with his wife and two daughters. In his spare time he enjoys golf and paddle boarding, and is currently brushing up on Finnish, a language he spoke nearly fluently as a child. 0000058A 00000588 00008397 00008397 0016B458 0016B458 0000816A 00008162 000666FA 000666FA

Moses Kagan is the co-founder and head of Adaptive Realty, a Los Angeles multifamily development and property management group. Since 2008, he has overseen the repositioning of more than 75 properties in Los Angeles and grown Adaptive from zero to $100MM in AUM. He began his career in mergers and acquisitions at LongAcre Partners in London (since acquired by Jefferies).    Moses received a B.A. magna cum laude from Princeton University and an M.A. from The London School of Economics, and is licensed as a real estate broker in California. 0000019F 0000019E 0000B1BB 0000B1BB 000AE2A2 000AE2A2 000084EC 000084DB 000E5DDB 000E5DDB

Episode 35 features Ralph Manning, the Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Coltala Holdings. As a private investor, and more recently a founding partner of Progress Equity Partners, Ltd, he has been active in acquiring majority control of operating companies since 2003 - typically from founder entrepreneurs and owner operators.  He  has over 20 years of direct investment experience, has served in executive and board roles in numerous companies, and for over 15 years has been an active investor in the private equity market. Previously, he was an associate at RSTW Partners, a private equity firm providing mezzanine and equity capital to lower-middle-market and middle-market companies throughout the United States. Mr. Manning’s current focus is on manufacturing and business services.    Within these industry sectors Coltala is interested in investment opportunities in the medical device manufacturing, aerospace, test & measurement equipment, material handling equipment  and  home services segments.  Coltala is currently executing a buy and build strategy in the HVAC industry via its platform company Trudela.   Information on Trudela can be found at  www.trudela.com Ralph earned an OPM from Harvard Business School, a BBA from Texas Christian University and holds the CFA designation.  He is active in YPO and is the current Chapter Chair of the Fort Worth Chapter. 00000083 00000082 00002138 000020F1 0000E014 0000E014 00007F94 00007FF4 001B698D 001B698D

Chrisanne, Managing Director for KPMG CF LLC, leads the Diversified Industrials Team, and co-leads the Private Equity Coverage Team. She is based in the Chicago office.   Chrisanne has more than 20 years of experience leading mergers and acquisitions (M&A) transactions for clients in the diversified industrials sector, specializing in high-growth end markets such as Test & Measurement, HVAC, Flow Control and Building Products. She has worked on numerous transactions for Fortune 500, private equity and leading private company clients and has advised on numerous cross-border transactions.   Prior to joining KPMG Corporate Finance, Chrisanne was an associate at Mitsubishi Bank in their middle market financing group. Prior to that she was an analyst in the leveraged buyouts group at JP Morgan.  Chrisanne earned a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame. 000001AC 000001AB 00003783 00003711 000106A7 000106A7 00007DF8 00008013 00011A0A 00011ED6

Erik Rudolph is a Managing Director at Farlie Turner and leads its Oil & Gas Services Practice as well as its Industrial Services Practices. In addition, Mr. Rudolph is co-head of Farlie Turner's Consumer Practice. Mr. Rudolph has advised a wide range of companies ranging from pure play oilfield services companies to industrial MRO companies to food & beverage companies on the consumer side. Prior to joining Farlie Turner, Mr. Rudolph was a co-founder and Managing Director of Aquetong Capital Advisors, a boutique investment bank focused on advising founders and owners of middle-market companies on their liquidity options. Mr. Rudolph started his investment banking career at Goldsmith Agio Helms, now Lazard Middle market, where he served as a Director in their New York office. ​ Mr. Rudolph started his professional career as an attorney practicing corporate and sports law for 8 years before moving over to investment banking. He received his B.A. in Political Science from New York University and his JD from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.   00000214 00000212 00013E92 00013E92 001DD0DB 001DD0DB 0000803A 0000813F 0000D3D6 0000D3F0

Steve is the President and CEO of Alaris Royalty Corp. and has served in that role since he co-founded the company in 2004.  Prior to creating Alaris, he spent 12 years in the investment banking industry as a Senior Officer in both Toronto and Calgary, giving capital markets and merger and acquisition advice to corporate clients in both public and private company startups. He is a qualified Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and was an Ernst & Young 2013 Prairies Entrepreneur of the Year finalist. Present day, he sits on the panel of judges at the event.    Steve is involved in every facet of the investment process at Alaris and is an integral part of the relationships that are created with each of the companies partners. Steve hails from a family of entrepreneurs and has built Alaris around a strong belief in driven private business owners.    In his spare time, Steve is an avid sports fan, player and coach. In 2014 he became majority owner of the Cardiff Devils, a Welsh team in the British Elite Ice Hockey League. Steve's main focus remains to be his wife, Kim, and their three busy kids.   00000342 0000033E 000054AF 000054AF 000ADFAC 000ADFAC 00007DAB 00007DB0 00134F0F 00134F29

As a co-founder and partner of Crossplane Capital, Brian is responsible for sourcing and closing transactions with significant cash and profitability improvement opportunities and overseeing the lifecycle of the portfolio.   Prior to founding Crossplane Capital, Brian was a managing director with Prophet Equity. During his 10 years there, Brian was responsible for sourcing and managing acquisitions with significant value creation upside. He served on the boards of directors of Acton Mobile, Hatch Stamping Company, Groff Tractor and Equipment, Total Plastics, Derby Fabricating and Cummings Signs. Brian began his career as an operations improvement consultant with AlixPartners and AT Kearney. During his seven-year career as a consultant, Brian’s work primarily focused on optimizing global supply chains, reducing manufacturing complexity, improving product profitability, and reducing direct material costs within industrial companies. These included Tier I automotive manufacturing, automotive aftermarket, food distribution, food manufacturing, electronics manufacturing and consumer packaged goods. Brian graduated cum laude with a BA in Economics from Vanderbilt University and an MBA from The University of Texas, where he received the Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence. Outside of work, Brian enjoys cheering on his three kids during their extracurricular activities and traveling the United States supporting his wife’s passion for running marathons. While he was raised in Dallas, he is proud of his West Texas family roots. Brian is a board member and former chairman of Interfaith Family Services, serves on the advisory board for the HMTF Center for Private Equity Finance at The University of Texas, and serves on the board of directors for Southern Methodist University’s Undergraduate Career Center. He is an eternal optimist about the success Vanderbilt University’s football team will have each season. Ping pong is his best sport.   000004E0 000004D8 00010611 00010611 0011214E 0011214E 00007CDC 00007F22 0012728D 00126097