COSTA MESA, Calif. – (October 8, 2008) – More than 80 senior-level executives from major European corporations, private equity firms and law firms gathered in London yesterday to discuss the impact of the global credit crisis on mergers and acquisitions and capital markets overall. The occasion was an international mergers and acquisitions symposium hosted by middle-market investment bank McGladrey Capital Markets LLC (www.mcgladreycm.com).
Entitled “Global Mergers and Acquisitions: Converting Today’s Volatility into Tomorrow’s Opportunity,” the symposium featured a keynote presentation from Martin Taylor, chairman, Syngenta S.A.. Merrill Corporation (www.merrillcorp.com) and mergermarket (www.mergermarket.com) co-sponsored the event.
“We are going through an incredibly tumultuous period in the global capital markets,” said Hector J. Cuellar, president, McGladrey Capital Markets. “We thought it would be helpful to gather some of the industry’s top leaders to discuss up-to-the-minute issues associated with middle-market M&A amidst this intense market volatility. Our guests benefitted from hearing strategic insights and creative ideas for coping with today’s challenges – and taking advantage of today’s opportunities.”
Symposium speakers and panelists included representatives from influential corporations, financial institutions and PE firms such as Lloyds TSB, Royal Bank of Scotland, GE Commercial Financial Services Europe, Fidelity Equity Partners, Summit Partners, CIT, Ultra Electronics, TA Associates, Hampson Industries, Gresham Private Equity, and Falck.
Following were among the topics addressed at the symposium:
- The New Rules for Lending in the Middle Market
- Private Equity Success in Uncertain Times
- Strategic Buyer vs. Private Equity: Is This the End of the Inversion?
The invitation-only event was held at The Dorchester. It is McGladrey Capital Markets’ ninth European symposium; previous events were held in Amsterdam, Stockholm, Paris, Frankfurt, London and Madrid.
About McGladrey Capital Markets
McGladrey Capital Markets LLC (www.mcgladreycm.com) is a global provider of investment banking services to private and public companies with annual revenues of up to $1 billion. The firm’s services include mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, recapitalizations, capital raising, fairness opinions and restructurings. McGladrey Capital Markets, which offers in-depth expertise in 13 distinct industry sectors, brings together companies, capital and creativity on a national and international scale to help clients achieve their personal and strategic objectives.
McGladrey Capital Markets is affiliated with RSM McGladrey Inc., a professional services firm providing accounting, tax and business consulting. Both firms are units of H&R Block Inc. (NYSE: HRB), the world’s preeminent tax services provider.
McGladrey Capital Markets’ international headquarters are located in Costa Mesa, Calif. It also has offices in Chicago, Dallas, Boston, New York and London. The firm is a member of FINRA and SIPC.