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Communication in the ACG Boston Community
by Jack Derby
Just because I tend to be an enthusiastic cheerleader about our ACG chapter, by now everyone has heard me comment repeatedly about “The ACG Community”. As members of ACG Boston, we should all feel proud about what all of us have built over the past couple of years. Today we have almost 800 members, plus approximately 4,000 people attend our 30 plus events each year, but most importantly, we have begun to create a robust community of individuals who rely on one another for resources, for referrals and, of course, for deal flow. At the Dealmaker’s Breakfasts each month, I talk about the fact that we come together at ACG Boston to “unabashedly do business”, which is really at the core of why we belong to this organization. Through the ACG Boston community and your increased involvement, we have found a very comfortable and trusted means of connecting and of growing our businesses.
One important component in our ability to connect with you is this newsletter, and I’d like to encourage your involvement in a couple of ways. First, you should always think about using this newsletter as a means of letting the rest of the community know about any significant new business wins, the deals that you have done, and any key new hires that have joined your company. I would also like to encourage your comments and ideas as to how we could continue to improve this newsletter plus any other ideas that you might have regarding how we might increase our outreach to the rest of the community. Here’s an example. We plan in the October time frame to begin offering space for company ads in this newsletter. We believe that it makes sense in terms of connecting our members and friends with new business opportunities, but it would be great to get your feedback on opportunities like this.
As always, you can contact me directly at jack@derbymanagement.com or Leslie Whittet, our Executive Director at lwhittet@acgboston.org, or Elliot Williams, the Chair of the Communications Committee at williams@merger.com.
If you just want to add content to the next newsletter, please send it to news@acgboston.org
Enjoy the rest of the summer and thanks for your support and continuing to be part of the ACG Boston community!
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Reasons to be Cheerful
The good news seems to keep on coming. Since last month’s Wall Street Journal stories on the upsurge in M&A activity, we’re seeing more and more headlines – and even cover stories – on one of our favorite topics.
[FULL STORY]
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Dealing with the Dangers in Buying Distressed Assets
by Stephen A. Gould, Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP
Although the M&A market remains languid, purchases of distressed assets are emerging as a viable growth strategy. But companies tempted to jump at a bargain must keep “caveat emptor” firmly in mind, balancing the immediate appeal of an opportunity with a plan to minimize the risks. There are at least five ways to do so.
[FULL STORY]
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Operating Experience Required
by Steve Berg, Castanea Partners
Some business owners may be reluctant to partner with a private equity firm that touts its operational expertise, in part out of fearing a loss of day-to-day control. Castanea Partners believes that, in certain circumstances, operational expertise can be beneficial to both business owners and investors. The firm’s founders have deep operational backgrounds, and they believe there is value in offering additional resources to support portfolio companies’ management teams. Hub News found out more from partner Steve Berg:
[FULL STORY]
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ACG’s ‘New Look’ Arriving in Q4
By year’s end, ACG’s chapters will share a confident new look as well as a blueprint for getting the kind of recognition the organization deserves.
[FULL STORY]
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Should Have Been There
VC players have to get a lot more creative in selecting investment sectors and managing capital. They cannot easily expect to get back to the annual distributions typical of 1999 or 2000, and they certainly cannot continue to act as if the principals of Economics 101 do not apply to them. Those were the gist of the messages delivered by keynote speaker Ted Dintersmith at the packed ACG DealMaker’s Breakfast on July 17.
[FULL STORY]
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Transaction News
This is the place to read about the latest deals, funds, acquisitions or investments from our members. Click the "Full Story" link to see the complete list of transactions.
[FULL STORY]
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People News
This is the place to learn about the latest new hires within the ACG community. Click the "Full Story" link for the complete list.
[FULL STORY]
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New Members
Mr. Matthew T. Bastardi, MedSource Technologies
Mr. Scott Card, Charlestown Tech Ventures
Mr. Marc Cole, Mellon Ventures Inc.
Mr. Lindsay Cook, Boston International Capital Partners
Mr. Joel Cutler, General Catalyst Partners
Mr. Jeffrey M. DelPorto, Lane, Berry & Co.
Mr. Brian W. Donovan, Deloitte & Touche LLP
Mr. Ken Estridge, Enterprise Development Group, Inc.
Mr. Edward Feuerstein, Audax Group
Mr. Robert Fishman, Robert Fishman Associates
Mr. Patrick J. Fitzpatrick, Patricius Associates
Ms. Gina Flynn, Nixon Peabody
Mr. Mark Forsyth, Orix Equipment Finance
Ms. Pearl Freier, Talent Capital Group
Mr. Dean Goodermote, ABS Capital Partners
Ms. Kathleen Goodwin, iMakeNews
Mr. Cary Greene, Painted Word, Inc.
Ms. Meryl Kahn, Genesis Group, Inc
Mr. Michael J. Kendall, Goodwin Procter
Mr. Anil Khosla Eckert, Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC
Mr. Scott Lochridge
Mr. Stephen Lombardi, Exit Plan
Mr. Phil S. Lotane, Venture Advisors, LLC
Ms. Lisa P. McAlister, Engage, Inc.
Mr. Alexander S. McGrath, Capital Resource Partners
Mr. Brian T. Moore, Day, Berry & Howard LLP
Mr. Michael Morrissey, Audax Group
Mr. Tim Norton, Intellisource International
Mr. Bob Palumbo, Progress Software
Mr. Jim Pelusi, Axia Partners
Mr. Peter Schablik, Grant Thornton LLP
Mr. William H. Schaffer, Specialty Aluminum Inc
Mr. Rudi Scheiber-Kurtz, Next Stage Solutions, Inc.
Mr. Lewis N. Segall, Sullivan & Worcester LLP
Mr. John E. Smyth, Morgan Stanley
Mr. Bejul Somaia, General Catalyst Partners
Mr. John M. Sprague, RSA Security
Mr. Jon D. Steele Lane, Berry & Co. International
Ms. Louise C. Vogel, Atlantic Conferences, Inc.
Mr. Keith K. Wentzel, ORIX Financial Services
Ms. Vivian Z. Wexler, Epstein Becker & Green, P.C.
Mr. Henry H. White, Venture Advisors, LLC
Mr. Karl Wohler, 11-X Acquisition Co., LLC
Mr. Greg Woolf, Vantage Reporting
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ACG Boston News
We’re keeping busy here in the new ACG Boston office located in Waltham, MA. In fact, we’re looking to hire a part-time Administrative Assistant (20+ hours a week with a flexible schedule). Below are the specifics so if you know anyone who fits this description please have them contact Leslie Whittet at exdir@acgboston.org or they can fax their resume to 617.218.3333.
Help Wanted
The Administrative Assistant is responsible for the day-to-day office procedures of this busy association office. These responsibilities include daily phone calls and emails with members and the public in response to inquiries and requests, updating the organization’s critical membership database (iMIS), and assist with planning and hosting over 30 events annually. The administrative assistant will also work with management on various administrative tasks as requested. Cross-training is emphasized and all staff is encouraged to assist other team members.
Enthusiasm, tact, patience, diplomacy and a pleasant manner must be maintained at all times. Quality customer service is priority one.
Specific duties: iMIS input and extraction; Respond to member and prospect inquiries by phone and email; Incoming/Outgoing mail; Maintain office calendar (events, meetings, marketing deadlines); Assist with monthly newsletter (track articles, production, light editing); Web site updates (no HTML required); Light bookkeeping duties; Special project management assignments as needed |
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Upcoming ACG Boston Events
(Register online for all these events at www.acgboston.org)
DealMaker’s Breakfast
September 18th - 7:15am – 9:00am
Michael Murray, Managing Director, Deutsche Bank
Le Meridien Hotel, Boston, MA.
October 16th – 7:15am – 9:00am
Gary Hirschberg, CEO - Stoneyfield Farms
Location TBA – stay tuned for details!
Networking Night
September 18th - 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Newton Marriott Hotel, Newton, MA
An evening of drinks, hors d’oeuvres and networking. Bring lots of business cards!
Fall Tech M&A Conference
“Playing by Darwin’s Rules: Growth Strategies for Challenging Economic Times”
November 3rd – 1:00pm – 6:00pm followed by a networking cocktail reception.
Save the date! Join us for the 2nd Annual Fall Tech M&A Conference. Prior to the speakers and panels ACG Boston will host the Capital for Technology program where equity and mezzanine investors will set up tables to showcase their funds, their investment focus and their portfolio holdings.
Table space is limited. If you are interested in exhibiting please contact Leslie Whittet at exdir@acgboston.org.
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