MasterClass^TM

Sponsors

Association Partners

Research Partners

Media Partners

Clear the date June 9 on your calendar!

CLICK HERE now to register before it's too late!
 

Brand-NEW MasterClass™

For Middle-Market Private Equity

 & Mezzanine Investors & Lenders

Private Equity Investing

In Packaging Companies --

Where to Find Growth Opportunities

In This Recession Resistant Industry

  Attendance Is Limited!

  CLICK HERE to Register Now

CHAIRED BY

Christopher A. Lawler, Managing Principal
Graham Partners

Featuring 20 Expert Speakers Including --

• Damon H. Ball, AEA Investors LP
• Thomas E. Blaige, Blaige & Co.
• Robert J. Cronin, Open Approach
• James M. Hill, Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff LLP
• William J. Hornell, Mesirow Financial Inc.
• Christopher C. Kenney, L. E. K. Consulting LLC
• Michael A. Kocourek, Mid Oaks Investments LLC
• Leland J. Lewis, Key Principal Partners Corp.
• Michael G. Lux, Crowe Horwath LLP
• John C. Marshall, JM & Co.
• Gregory J. Myers, Mason Wells Inc.
• Adam B. Piatkowski, Graham Partners Inc.
• Emilio S. Pedroni, First Atlantic Capital, Ltd.
• Anand T. Philip, Castle Harlan Inc.
• Brian Polomsky, GE Antares Capital Corp.
• Graham Schindler, Houlihan Lokey
• D. Todd VanderMolen, XMS Capital Partners, LLC

Click Here to Register >>   Purchase Audio Package >>

 Visit Audio Library >>    Add to Outlook Calendar >>

FULL-DAY MASTERCLASS

Thursday, June 9, 2011

8:00 am – 5:00 pm
New York City 

Designed to Meet the Needs of GPs, LPs, & Managers of Buyout, Growth Equity, Mezzanine, & Lending Funds, as Well as Independent Sponsors, Operating Partners, Portfolio Company Managers, and the Bankers, Lawyers, Accountants,

& Other Advisors Who Support Them

Faculty | Schedule | Registration | Location | Sponsorship | Audio Package |

Despite the economic downturn, the packaging industry has been on a roll, adapting to today’s market challenges through advancements in technology, materials, and graphics.  

This area holds many unique opportunities for middle‑market private equity investors, since product innovations and sustainability considerations are spurring rapid growth.

Worldwide packaging industry revenues have been estimated to reach $530 billion in 2014, reflecting a growth rate that exceeds that of the overall global economy.  Private equity deal flow jumped significantly upwards in 2010, with the average size of announced deals growing as well. 

Investors have long considered the industry to be exceptionally stable and resilient. The lion’s share of packaging work is for consumer staples -- from dry foods, frozen foods and dairy products to pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and household maintenance products.  This assures steady growth and stable earnings even in tough economic times.

The numbers show that during 2010, the packaging sector valuations were up 21%, compared with 13% for the S&P -- and 2011 is already on track to deliver similar outperformance.  Valuations for the sector have averaged 7.7x EBITDA.

You’ll find out how to take advantage of these superior sector benefits when you attend The Capital Roundtable’s brand-NEW full‑day conference on private equity investing in packaging companies Thursday, June 9, in New York --

Private Equity Investing

In Packaging Companies --

Where to Find Growth Opportunities

In This Recession Resistant Industry

In addition, you can wrap up special savings of $400 by signing up now for this conference.  Our generous Early Bird Discount applies on all seats when you make your reservation by April 29, 2011!

Just some of the recent activity in the sector includes BWAY Holding Co. making two add‑on acquisitions -- pail manufacturers Plastican and Phoenix Container.  Wind Point Partners’ acquisition of contract packager Cloud Packaging Solutions.  Odyssey Investment Partners’ acquisition of PET manufacturer Peninsula Packaging Co.  And Irving Place Capital’s acquisitions of rigid packaging manufacturers Alpha Plastics and Progressive Plastics.

The push for packaging with better features and less usage of material is driving today’s demand.  Packagers are offering new sizes, more flexible containers, lighter weight, and greater security, which allow manufacturers to get a leg up on their competition while controlling their costs. 

While plastics, paper, and metal remain the primary packaging media, manufacturers today will switch from one to another in their search for a marketing edge.

In addition, end users are more concerned than ever about recyclability of packaging materials, and the industry is constantly developing new forms and formats that justify the replacement of old with new. 

Manufacturers are also attempting to concentrate products to require less packaging from the outset -- this can be seen in such categories as laundry detergent, where consumer acceptance is rising now that the same cleaning power within a traditional large box or bottle can be provided in a smaller, more sustainable form.

Against the backdrop of continuing unemployment and high public debt, the packaging industry -- and its middle-market companies in particular -- have never been so attractive to investors looking for success in 2011. 

To examine the intricacies of this sector in full detail, we are delighted to have as our conference chair Chris Lawler, managing principal at Graham Partners, a suburban Philadelphia private equity firm that focuses on acquiring and investing in middle-market industrial companies with exceptional growth potential.

Chris joined Graham Partners in 1999, and shares responsibility for transaction sourcing, structuring, negotiating and divesting, working with portfolio companies, and handling relationships with LPs.  He has primary oversight responsibility for The Atlas Group, Berry Plastics, Schneller, TriMas/Asahi Tec, and Strata.

Chris was previously a Vice President in the Financial Sponsors and Corporate Finance Groups at NationsBank (now Bank of America), and worked for First Fidelity Bank and HSBC.  He holds a BS in business administration from the University of Richmond, and an MBA from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

20 Packaging Experts Will Make Opportunity Take Shape.

Some investors have considered packaging to be a big cap game, but that’s definitely not the case.  Except for certain specialties such as long-run metal beverage packaging, this is a fragmented sector with plenty of middle market platforms -- especially in the flexible packaging area. 

So with the opening of credit markets, many sponsors are taking advantage of this fragmentation to build growth platforms through smaller acquisitions.

Also helping to spur industry volume are regulations placed on product manufacturers by federal, state, and local governments.  These range from general recycling guidelines to industry-specific mandates such as tamper-evident packaging to ensure food safety.

As you may realize, lenders like the sector just as much as private equity firms.  The stability that most packaging companies offer is well recognized and well regarded.  While packaging can be a capital‑intensive business, investors who need higher amounts of leverage can quickly find open‑minded sources.

Our four panel discussions will feature 20 knowledgeable private equity experts in packaging, including GPs, portfolio company operating executives, investment bankers, lenders, consultants and more.  They will share their real-world perspectives, lessons learned and industry outlooks, including insights on recent deal activity and managing current portfolio companies.

Register now for the whole story on growing revenues and profits in this space, including --

• What is the outlook for packaging in 2011-2012?
• Which are likely to be the best areas of opportunity for new investors in packaging?
• How are packaging firms meeting the challenge of rising prices for raw materials?
• What new technologies are available that can give manufacturers’ packaging a visible edge on the shelves?
• What does the trend toward eco-friendly packaging mean to investors?
• How is consolidation affecting the packaging space, and which sub-sectors are most open to smaller companies?
• Why do many lenders have a favorable view of the packaging industry?
• What key steps can portfolio companies take to manage overall costs? What are the best practices that management can employ?
• What have been some of the most representative middle-market deals in the sector?
• And much, much more.

Superb Networking Opportunities Throughout The Day.

You’ll be able to exchange ideas, make connections and swap business cards with both our attendees and speakers.  We provide dedicated session breaks plus an open lunch that will help you grow your database of packaging industry contacts.

You should attend this conference if you are a --

• GP or LP looking to invest in packaging companies.
• New private equity firm considering investing in packaging companies.
• Hedge fund manager or venture capitalist interested in this specialized space.
• Partner or operating executive of a packaging portfolio company.
• Lender seeking participation in packaging transactions.
• Investment banker pursuing deals with packaging companies.
• Attorney or advisor representing packaging companies.
• Executive search professional recruiting for the private equity industry.

Remember, register with our Early Bird Discount by April 29, 2011, and you’ll save $400 off our standard fee!  Seats are available right now, but not for long, so please make your reservation now so you’re not disappointed.  We’ll be looking forward to greeting you.

For more information, please feel free to contact Shaina Mardinly at 212-832-7333 ext. 0 or smardinly@capitalroundtable.com.

This conference is being produced by The Capital Roundtable, America’s leading conference organization focusing on “need-to-know” information for professionals in the middle-market private equity community.  For more information about The Capital Roundtable’s 30 annual MasterClasses and other events and programs, please visit www.capitalroundtable.com.

The Capital Roundtable thanks Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff LLP and Crowe Horwath LLP for sponsoring this outstanding event. It’s due in great part to their collaboration and support that we have the resources to make this event so worthwhile for you. 

^ Back to Top ^

Faculty

Chaired By

• Christopher A. Lawler, Managing Principal, Graham Partners

Hosted By

• Burt Alimansky, Managing Partner, Alimansky & Bethell Group, and Chairman, The Capital Roundtable

Speakers

• Damon H. Ball, Managing Director, AEA Investors LP
• Thomas E. Blaige, Chairman & CEO, Blaige & Co.
• Robert J. Cronin, Managing Partner, Open Approach
• James M. Hill, Executive Chairman, Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff LLP
• William J. Hornell, Managing Director, Mesirow Financial Inc.
• Christopher C. Kenney, Vice President, L. E. K. Consulting LLC
• Michael A. Kocourek, President, Mid Oaks Investments LLC
• Leland J. Lewis, Managing Partner, Key Principal Partners Corp.
• Michael G. Lux, Partner-in-Charge, Crowe Horwath LLP
• John C. Marshall, Founding Partner & CEO, JM & Co.
• Gregory J. Myers, Managing Director, Mason Wells Inc.
• Adam B. Piatkowski, Principal, Graham Partners Inc.
• Emilio S. Pedroni, Principal, First Atlantic Capital, Ltd.
• Anand T. Philip, Vice President, Castle Harlan Inc.
• Brian Polomsky, Senior Vice President, GE Antares Capital Corp.
• Graham Schindler, Director, Houlihan Lokey
• D. Todd VanderMolen, Managing Director, XMS Capital Partners, LLC
• Additional Speakers To Be Announced

^ Back to Top ^

Schedule

^ Back to Top ^

Registration

• Early Bird Registration Fee -- and save $400 off the standard fee! Register by Friday, April 29, and the fee for the MasterClass is $995.

• Premiere Registration Fee -- save $200 off the standard fee! Register by Friday, May 20, and the fee for the MasterClass is $1195.

• After that, the standard fee is $1395 for the MasterClass.

• At the door, if space is available, the fee is $1495 for the MasterClass.

• Special group rates -- The Capital Roundtable offers a special discount for 2 or more people.  For more info, please contact Shaina Mardinly smardinly@capitalroundtable.com or 212-832-7333 ext 0.
  
  
  

Click Here to Register >>    Purchase Audio Package >>

 

 Visit Audio Library >>    Add to Outlook Calendar >>

You can pay by credit card (using the links above) or by check. Mail your check and business card to: New York Business Roundtable Inc., 12 East 44 Street, Penthouse, New York, NY 10017.

If the program is oversubscribed, we will notify you immediately and not charge your credit card.  (If you need to cancel, please do so by Thursday, June 2 at 5:00pm, and we will credit you for a future MasterClass.)

From time to time, for reasons beyond Capital Roundtable's control, program schedules and speakers become subject to change.  We make every effort to announce substantive changes by email to registrants at least 48 hours in advance.

Have a special question?  Please contact Shaina Mardinly at 212-832-7333 ext. 0 or by email at smardinly@capitalroundtable.com.

^ Back to Top ^

Location

The University Club
College Hall -- First Floor
One West 54 Street (at 5th Avenue)
New York City

^ Back to Top ^

Audio Package

Can't attend but want to hear the program? You can buy the audio package along with the handouts. Purchase the audio package online now.

^ Back to Top ^

Sponsorship

The Capital Roundtable offers excellent marketing and business development opportunities to reach the middle-market private-equity community . For more details, please contact Dana DeMattia at 212-832-7333 or by email at ddemattia@capitalroundtable.com.

^ Back to Top ^

Change Your Mailing Preferences
To change your name or email address, or to select the mailings you wish to receive from us, go to our mailing preferences page.

Unsubscribe
To unsubscribe from our mailings, go to our unsubscribe page. You may also unsubscribe by replying to this email and putting unsubscribe in the subject line or by writing to us at: Capital Roundtable, 12 East 44th Street, Penthouse, New York, NY 10017.
You are subscribed as [EMAIL]

No part of this text may be reproduced or otherwise published without the express written consent of The Capital Roundtable.
©2010New York Business Roundtable Inc. All Rights Reserved.
. .