EPI Chapter Monthly Meeting-

Most owners are not familiar with the full range of available exit options – or the different economics that result from each. While we tend to think of an M&A exit first, there are a range of options to transition ownership, control and/or management of a company. Whether it be through a sale to the management team, a family member, a strategic or financial buyer, an ESOP or a combination of several of these methods, it is important that all possibilities be considered in light of the owner’s goals. In this interactive presentation we’ll have two industry veterans take a deeper dive into the main types of transitions and the implications they may have on the owner and the other stakeholders in the business.

Speaker Bios

Marc Marlin

Managing Director
KippsDeSanto & Co.

Mr. Marlin has a broad base of experience in providing transaction advisory services. Mr. Marlin was recognized in 2012 by SmartCEO – Washington’s Best of Banking. Mr. Marlin is a frequent speaker on mergers and acquisitions involving aerospace / defense and IT firms and has been quoted in publications including Federal Times, Bloomberg, and GovConExec, amongst others, and guest lecturer at the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business. He is on the Board of Directors of the Association of Corporate Growth National Capital Chapter and the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce. He is also a member of the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business MBA Alumni Advisory Council.

Prior to co-founding KippsDeSanto & Co., Mr. Marlin was an Associate in Houlihan Lokey’s Washington, DC office and a member of Houlihan Lokey’s Aerospace·Defense·Government industry investment banking group. Previous experience includes work as an Associate with Harris Williams, as a Summer Associate at JPMorganChase, and as an Investment Associate at the International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group.

Mr. Marlin received an MBA from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business where he graduated Valedictorian. Mr. Marlin also received a B.B.A from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business.

Thomas Roback, Jr., CEP, QKA

Managing Director
Blue Ridge ESOP Associates

Mr. Roback has worked in the accounting, investment and ESOP industry for over 23 years. He is an expert in the design, implementation and execution of ESOP, stock option, stock purchase and restricted stock plans. Mr. Roback received his MBA from the University of Baltimore and a BS in Accounting from the College of William and Mary. He is a Qualified 401(k) Administrator, Certified Equity Professional and the Vice-Chair on the Board of Directors for the National Center for Employee Ownership. Tom is also the Vice President-Membership for the ESOP Association’s Mid-Atlantic Chapter. He is a member of The ESOP Association, American Society for Pension Professionals & Actuaries, Employee-Owned S Corporations of America, and the National Center for Employee Ownership.

Learning Objectives

• Identify the various exit options for middle market business owners
• Contrast the pros and cons for specific exit options
• Identify the steps involved in an ESOP
• Recognize ideal candidates for specific exit options
• Consider which methods may be appropriate for various owner situations.