Vancouver 2006

Trading Business for Money
“Liquidity for life”

Some presentations are now available for download. Click the links below to download PDF versions of the presentations.

9:00 – 9:15

Conference Overview

John McDonald will provide an overview of the days proceedings, followed by brief presentation on the “Transition Bubble”… a demographic trend that impacts all private business owners thinking of cashing out in the next 5 to 7 years. (download presentation)

9:15 – 10:10

Values & Trends

Who’s buying? Who’s Selling? What are they paying and what terms are the buyers insisting on? In this session, a panel of 3 experts comes out of the trenches just long enough to tell you what’s really going on out there.

After the individual presentations, the panel will field questions from the audience.

Panelists include:
Glenn Ballman, CEO & Founder, The Genesis Exchange (download presentation)
Ted Koffman, McCarthy (download presentation)
Tanner Philp, CFO & Fund Manager, BC Advantage Funds (VCC) Ltd.

10:10 – 10:30

Coffee Break

10:30 – 11:45

What’s Your Company Worth?

Putting a price on the business is one of the hardest things that a business owner can do, yet a realistic understanding of the company value can make or break the deal. As if that weren’t enough, the “right” price is different depending who you are selling to (a Competitor vs. a Strategic Buyer or an Insider vs. a professional investor). In this session, panelists take the mystery out of putting the “right price on your company, by providing a simple (plain English) explanation of the most common methods of establishing a fair market value.

Three common scenarios will be specifically addressed:
1. Selling to Competitors or Strategic Buyers
2. Selling to Insiders (management or staff)
3. Raising money from professional investors (Venture Capitalists)

After the individual presentations, the panel will field questions from the audience.

Panelists include:
John McDonald, President, Rampworth Capital Services Inc. (download presentation)
Jonathan Reimer, Certified Business Valuator, President, Dynasty Mergers and Acquisitions (download presentation)
Peter Scott, Stirling Mercantile Corporation (download presentation)

11:45 – 12:15

Financial Tools to Increase Value and Reduce a Sellers Risk

Most business owners dream of the day when they ”Cash” out and retire, yet buyers of private companies rarely make an all “cash” offer. Instead, the typical retiring owner ends up carrying a significant loan on the very business that they are giving up control on. Worse, they rarely get the security or the returns that they deserve, but if they don’t offer the loan, either the price is too low or the deal simply doesn’t get done (and the boat never sails).

In this session you’ll learn the key financial tools that are available to help raise the price and reduce the sellers’ risk.

Speaker: Axel Christiansen, Van City (download presentation)

12:15 – 1:15

Lunch (on the exposition floor) www.buildexvancouver.com

1:15 – 1:30

The Perfect Pitch

You’re on an elevator to a meeting on the 45th floor. You run into the perfect prospect to buy your company. You’ve got 2 minutes to get him excited…it’s called an elevator pitch, and every seller needs one.

In this session you’ll be introduced to the proven “Perfect Pitch” model for crafting your own compelling elevator pitch, and you’ll get some practical tips for making that first meeting.

Speaker: John McDonald, President, Rampworth Capital Services Inc. (download presentation)

1:15 – 2:15

Packaging for Success

No matter how fast you talk, or how fantastic your business is, legitimate buyers simply do not purchase companies off the back of a napkin. Investors are used to professional packaging, and the lack of it can seriously impact perceived value, but so too can a package that is too flashy or elaborate… so what so you really need?

In this session, a panel of seasoned financial packaging experts give you the straight goods about what works and what doesn’t.

After the individual presentations, the panel will field questions from the audience.

Each panelist will speak to the 5 most common elements:
1. Presentation
2. Executive Summary
3. Business Plan
4. Financials (and Proforma)
5. Due Diligence Package

Panelists include:
Evan Johnston, Fasken Martineau
Paul Marley, Rampworth Capital Services Inc. (download presentation)
David Shore, Sterling Mercantile (download presentation)

2:15 – 3:15

Marketing the Deal

How would you market a new product if you had to keep it a secret? How would you promote it to prospective buyers, while at the same time keeping your competitors and customers from finding out? These problems and more are faced everyday when business owners market their company to investors and strategic buyers, yet some people do a masterful job while others flounder.

In this session, our panel of experts share some of the proven secrets for, among other things, finding the right prospects, promoting under the radar, and managing the complexity of a confidential offering.

Panelists include:
Mike Grabham, VP Sales, The Genesis Exchange
Jonathan Reimer, Certified Business Valuator, President, Dynasty Mergers and Acquisitions (download presentation)
Mike Steele, Windy Point Capital (download presentation)

3:15 – 4:15

Negotiating a Successful Deal

It’s one thing to find someone who’s interested in owing your company… it’s a whole other thing to get them to take the money out of their wallet and put it into yours. This is no widget you’re selling. Successfully closing on the sale of a company requires a prolonged and high stakes negotiation. The pressure is high, tensions run thick, and the dance is choreographed to a set of unspoken rules that govern behavior throughout.

In this session, seasoned deal makers share some practical tips and instructive war stories, so that you walk away with a clear list of do’s and don’ts for your big negotiation.

After the individual presentations, the panel will field questions from the audience.

Panelists include:
Brad Newby, M&A Lawyer, Partner, Farris, Vaughan, Wills & Murphy LLP (download presentation)
Craig Jobber, CEO & Angel Investor (download presentation)
Neil Patton, Negotiation Coach, Pre-Think (download presentation)

4:15 – 4:30

Conclusion: What to do with all that Money

Many Business owners dream of cashing out and retiring, but few will ever make it into the category of the ultra-wealthy… but that doesn’t mean we can’t hear their secrets for managing money. The Stenner group is an elite and highly exclusive firm managing money for some of the most successful business owners that Canada has ever seen.

Join John Currie as he shares three secrets to protecting your capital and beating the market average — every time.

Speaker: John Currie, The Stenner Group (download presentation)

4:30 – 5:00

Wine & Cheese/Networking

Business owners rarely get a chance to mingle in a roomful of peers, so stick around and enjoy a glass of wine and some conversation. Panelists and sponsors will be available for questions on the exhibition floor.

 

Program and speakers subject to change.