AEC M & A Summit Offers Solutions

Press Release: June 7, 2011 FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (June 7, 2011) – Two can be better than one. From adding clients, expanding to new markets or locations, increasing services, or building staff numbers/skills, a merger or acquisition can host a large number of benefits for a firm. But just like any new relationship, the process of joining two firm’s lives can be challenging and stressful even in the best of scenarios. The AEC Merger & Acquisition Summit in Las Vegas on June 16-17, 2011, is the place to meet the top dealmakers in the industry and get the answers to even the toughest questions about M & A. Jeff Clark, head of mergers and acquisitions for ZweigWhite, wanted to create a new conference for experienced M&A players to come to every year in the hopes that the best could learn from the best in order to improve the overall marketplace served. “I think we’re realistic in our approach to serving large A/E firms in that many of them have their own internal resources for M&A and choose not to hire firms such as ours for buy-side representation. However, we still need to be aware of their needs and target firm profiles so that when we have a sell-side engagement, we have a close working relationship with all the top firms that play well in that space. This event is meant to foster better relationships between the large and mid-size firms, to initiate discussions for a mega-deal or merger whenever possible, and for us to continue to serve them through deal sourcing of smaller firms looking to be acquired.” Even if you don’t think you want to pursue a merger or acquisition at this time, the M & A Summit will have something for you. With speakers such as Lenord Cubellis, Gregory DiFrank, James Crispino, Bill Evans, Brian Wodar, and Greg Lindberg, there’s no topic that will escape discussion. The list of accomplished speakers also features President and CEO of Kleinfelder, William C. Siegel, P.E., who will present on the topic of “Integration: What Kleinfelder does to Realize Acquisition Value.” In a tough economic climate, growth and expansion can be necessary for survival. Kleinfelder, a employee-owned science, architecture and engineering consulting firm, has been executing a strategic growth plan since 1992 that includes regular acquisitions, often more than one each year. He says, “In these challenging economic times for our industry there is increased interest on both the buyer and seller side of acquisitions. Understanding the marketplace, evaluating the potential value of a sale, and how to make a sale or acquisition successful are critical issues that will be addressed in this conference.” For more information on the AEC Merger and Acquisition Summit visit http://www.zweigwhite.com/events/mergers