Welcome and Introductions by Sherry McNeil CFA President, and Larry Weinberg, CFA General Counsel and Virtual Event Chair

The purchase and sale process has several key building blocks and phases that are helpful to understand before engaging in it.  This is an introduction to the fundamentals of mergers and acquisitions in the context of a franchisor or multi-unit franchisee.  The panel will review the process, identify the key stakeholders, discuss due diligence, and provide insight into how to best prepare for a transaction, whether on the sell side or buy side. 

Closing a transaction is typically fraught with twists and turns, as anything from new information being uncovered, market conditions changing and disagreements between stakeholders coming to the forefront can threaten or adversely affect the transaction. Experienced franchise transaction participants will provide real life examples of the obstacles and challenges one might experience during the course of a transaction, and discuss strategies they have employed to ensure that their transactions are ultimately completed.

The business and franchising landscape has seen some significant shifts in 2020, and it is anticipated that there are still more to come. The panel will discuss the trends, risks and opportunities that have emerged during the course of 2020 in connection with M&A, and how we should think about franchise M&A in particular.   

Closing Remarks by Larry Weinberg, CFA General Counsel and Virtual Event Chair