2023 M&A and Transaction Solutions Symposium

M&A Market Update
While M&A activity remains at historically high levels, M&A practitioners are faced with headwinds that include significant economic and geopolitical uncertainty. In this session, our speaker will discuss the deal landscape and look at where the market is heading and where opportunities can be found.

Enhancing Returns: A Look at 2022 Claims Activity
Aon’s claims advocacy team shares their 2022 claims experience and previews findings of Aon’s 2023 Transaction Solutions Claims Study release.

Panelists:
Anthony Dragone, SVP, Aon
Jennifer Drake, SVP, Aon

Break

The Beast Unleashed: Deal Tax Risk under the Inflation Reduction Act
The passage of the inflation reduction act created both risk and opportunity for dealmakers. In this panel, tax specialists will discuss the evolving landscape for tax risk in transactions, including increased investment in clean energy and what it could mean for deals as the IRS enters “beast mode”.

Moderator:
Jessica Harger, Managing Director, North America Tax Practice Leader, M&A and Transaction Solutions, Aon​

Panelists:
Willette Elder, Senior Vice President, Transactional Liability - Tax, VALE Insurance Partners
Scott Harty, Partner, Alston & Bird​
Nick Kato, Manager Partner, Leo Berwick
Vijay Nair, Associate Director, Tax Transaction Solutions, Asia
Sean Wilson, Global Transaction Tax Senior Director, Alvarez & Marsal

M&A and Volatility: Perspectives on Doing Deals in an Era of Uncertainty
In this session, seasoned corporate development and private equity professionals will share their views on the deal perils keeping them up at night and where they are finding opportunity and new avenues for investment.

Moderator:
Julia Papastavridis, Managing Director, M&A and Transaction Solutions at Aon

Panelists:
Vasundhara Bhargava, Principal, Patient Square Capital
Michael Guo, Managing Director, TPG
Toria Lessman, Head of Transactional Liability, QBE
Rita O'Neill, Partner, Sullivan & Cromwell
Chris de Wolfe, Vice President Risk Management, Mars

Spin on the Spa Pool Deck
This cycling class combines high energy and upbeat music to deliver a power workout. Great for all levels, riders can expect to tackle a variety of hill climbs, fast flats, and mixed conditioning this fast-paced exercise. 60 minutes.

Flow Yoga on the Lawn
Also known as Vinyasa, Flow Yoga is a posture-focused class that links movement and breath from pose to pose. You will flow through sequences of traditional sun salutations and standing postures, building strength and endurance as you explore the edge of your balance and flexibility. 60 minutes.

The Evolution and Expanding Applicability of Representations & Warranties Insurance
Representations & warranties insurance continues to evolve and respond to shifting transaction trends and structures. With an increased focus on secondary transactions, take privates and the potential for distressed transactions, advisors and underwriters examine the current market and where it might be headed.

Moderator
Jill Kerxton, Managing Director/Reps & Warranty Practice Leader, M&A and Transaction Solutions, Aon​

Panelists
Matthew Delja, Deputy General Counsel at TPG Growth & Rise
Phil Glorieux, Managing Director, Ambridge Partners
Hayley Hollender, Partner, Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Jay Rittberg, Managing Principal, Euclid Transactional

Gaining Foresight by Leveraging Hindsight: Using Claims Experience to Improve Claim Results
Greater deal volume over the past several years has yielded more claims providing a larger sample size to gain insight into what drives a smoother experience and what leads to more friction. Join our panelists as they explore themes on various types of claims and provide guidance on approaches that lead to more successful outcomes.

Moderator:
Stephen Davidson, Managing Director, M&A and Transaction Solutions, Aon

Panelists:
Bob Boldt, Partner, Kirkland & Ellis
Meg Gardiner, Chief Legal Officer, Euclid Transactional
Natalie Graham, SVP, Head of Claims, Mosaic Insurance
Elisa Zurlini, VP, Head of Transactional Liability Claims, Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance

The Next Frontier: Litigation Risk Insurance Beyond Single Case Applications
As single-case applications of litigation risk insurance becomes more widespread, clients and insurers are recognizing the flexibility and applicability of using litigation risk insurance to address a wide-variety complex risks and to drive returns. This panel will share how traditional litigation risk solutions apply to both plaintiffs and defendants and explore the emerging opportunities to de-risk portfolios of cases at various stages of litigation.

Moderator:
Ed Conlon, Managing Director, Litigation Risk Group, M&A and Transaction Solutions, Aon

Panelists:
Daniel Bond, SVP – Contingent Liability, Dual North America, Inc.
Paul Jeroen van de Grampel, Global Co-Head of Litigation Risk Group, Aon
Stephen Kyriacou, Managing Director, Senior Lawyer, Litigation Risk Group and Special Opportunities Group, Aon
Dominic Spinelli, Head of Contingent Legal Risk Insurance, Americas

Breakout

1. Practical Approach to Managing Deal Breaking Risks
   Legal advisors and active acquirors discuss the risks that are increasingly stalling and jeopardizing deals, including lengthy regulatory review and interim periods and the effect on transaction insurance, a hard financing market, transactional tax risks and IT/data privacy concerns.
   
   Moderator:
   Daniel Howard, Managing Director, M&A and Transaction Solutions, Aon
   
   Panelists:
   Drew Levin, Partner, Latham & Watkins
   Jason Tomitz, Managing Director and Head of Tax, BlueChip Underwriting Services
   Darcy Wilson, Senior Vice President, Oaktree Capital Management
   David Zaheer, Partner, Latham & Watkins
    
2. Delicate Surgery: Considerations for Carveout Transactions
   Carveouts bring wide-ranging risks that dealmakers must consider in order to realize long-term value. This panel brings together M&A, insurance and advisory professionals to discuss the risks and rewards in successful execution of carveouts. They will look at how insurance solutions and effective and broad diligence can help parties navigate the unique challenges these transactions present. 
   
   Moderator:
   Jerald Khoo, Senior Vice President, M&A and Transaction Solutions, Aon
   
   Panelists:
   Navine Aggarwal, Executive Vice President, M&A, Ethos Specialty
   Brett Burgan, Partner of Transaction and Litigation Services, Daszkal Bolton
   Dawn Conrad, Executive Vice President, People Advisory, Aon
   June Dipchand, Partner, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
   David McCann, Executive Director, M&A and Transaction Solutions, Aon

Ask an Underwriter Anything: What M&A Deal Professionals and Their Advisors Most Want to Know
In a twist on our traditional underwriters panel, clients and advisors take the mic and shape the conversation. Underwriters from leading insurers will respond to questions posed by clients and advisors, discussing how insurance responds to an evolving M&A market.

Moderator:
Matthew Wiener, Managing Director, M&A and Transaction Solutions, Aon
Matt Dubeck, Partner, Gibson Dunn
Sarah Mitchell, Partner, Vinson and Elkins

Panelists:
Lance Fraser, Senior Vice President, Transactional Risk at Chubb
Rustin Paul, Chief Underwriting Officer, RWI - Concord Specialty Risk
Anna Rozin, North America M&A Manager at AIG
Daniel Simnowitz, Executive Vice President, DUAL Transaction Solutions

Break

The Future State of M&A:
Dealmaking in the Golden Age of Cybercrime
U.S companies are navigating an ever evolving cyber threat landscape. With the continued growth of technology and digital innovation to create value and gain a competitive advantage, cybercrime has proliferated across the globe with losses estimated to top $10.5 trillion annually by 2025.* Rising geopolitical tensions across the globe have compounded the problem as the line between nation state actors and cybercrime organizations becomes increasingly blurred. Investors and dealmakers are now challenged to navigate a complex digital environment, requiring decisions around cyber security, data and technology to be made at every step of the investment lifecycle. Our speakers will lead a discussion on the critical cybersecurity issues facing M&A in 2023. We will explore how cyber risks impact companies and what you can to secure and enhance value, from the pre-deal phase through integrations, portfolio management, and divestitures.

Moderator:
Will Shortt, Director Cyber Security Intelligence M&A Advisory​, Aon

Panelists:
Robert Blamires, Partner, Latham & Watkins
Bryan Hurd, Chief of Office, Aon Cyber Solutions
Michael Kingston, Board Member, Chief Information Officer, Technology Transformation Leader
Marcela Robledo, Partner, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP

A New Age of Infrastructure Investing
From the passage of infrastructure related laws in the United States to the increased investor demand for infrastructure investment around the globe, this asset class continues to evolve. In this session, our panelists will discuss where and what infrastructure investments are being made, along with a variety of deal considerations, including expected returns, the regulatory environment and tax considerations.

Moderator:
Corey Lewis, Managing Director, M&A and Transaction Solutions, Aon

Panelists:
Susan Berndt, Lead Risk and Insurance Specialist - Ørsted
Katie Ostman, Senior Vice President - Legal, Swift Current Energy
Audrey Rojas, Co-Leader U.S. Risk Transaction Advisory Services, Aon
Rashmi Soans, Principal, PwC
Laura Stern, SEIA - Member Board of Directors

Closing Remarks