Chicago-area middle-market leaders will gather at the Association for Corporate Growth Chicago (ACG Chicago) International Conference to learn how to identify, analyze and capture the exponential opportunities in international growth. Following the successful 2007 ACG Chicago International Conference 'Is the World Really Flat? – Middle Market Companies Competing in the Global Economy,' this year’s third annual event will provide professionals focused on corporate growth, corporate development and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) with an opportunity to hear from internationally recognized keynote speakers and five blue-ribbon expert panels.
Middle Market Growth in Uncertain World Markets: Risk and Opportunity,' will take place at The Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers. This full day of panels and presentations will cover geographic opportunities, direct investment, private equity expansion, key sector opportunities and the worldwide impact of the capital markets on corporate expansion.
Robert B. Reich, professor of Public Policy at the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley and former U.S. Secretary of Labor, will present during the keynote luncheon.
Other global middle-market issues will be covered during five panel presentations during which topics will be explored by executives from 3i, A.T. Kearney, Abbott Laboratories, Baird Capital Partners, Boeing, Business Week, Conway MacKenzie & Dunleavy, Emerson Electric, Fortune, Jordan Industries, Littelfuse, Manitowoc Company, Pfingsten Partners, Zebra Technologies and many others.
"The ACG Chicago International Conference will bring together many of the leading Chicago-area global middle market companies who are helping to make our area one of the most attractive places for global business in the U.S.," said David Laverty, ACG Chicago international conference co-chair and partner at InternationalCounsel. "There is not a more important time to understand the global marketplace.”
A recent ACG and Thomson Financial survey revealed that Chicago investment professionals are increasingly looking at cross-border deals. “The success of this conference is evidence that the middle market private equity firms and advisors have captured a strong part of the worldwide opportunities for growth and are looking to grow even more." noted Frank Mack, conference co-chair and managing director at Conway MacKenzie & Dunleavy, Inc. While 41 percent of the survey respondents had not done a cross-border transaction in the last year, 68 percent believed that they will be doing a cross-border deal in the next six months, with 29 percent saying it is somewhat likely, and 39 percent saying it is very likely. Respondents also noted that Western Europe (78%), Canada (64%) and China (50%) are the areas in which they will most likely be involved.
“The positive view of M&A activity and the proactive reach into the global markets continue to show the strength of the middle markets served by Chicago professionals” said Craig Miller, CEO of ACG Chicago. "With Chicago clearly established as a global business center, our dealmakers continue to expand their expertise and networks globally to take advantage of investment opportunities outside of the U.S. as well as to work with foreign entities attracted to U.S. investment because of the weak dollar."
About ACG Chicago
ACG Chicago is Northern Illinois' premier association for corporate development, investment, and merger and acquisition professionals. A leader in the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) global network, ACG Chicago boasts a membership of almost 1000 foremost authorities who form a diverse and knowledgeable network of corporate executives, capital sources, corporate advisors and service providers that all share a strong commitment to leadership in the field of strategic corporate growth. ACG Chicago, recipient of the 2006-2007 Outstanding Chapter Programming Award, provides its members with professional and business opportunities as well as the most current information through its ongoing luncheon series, breakfast seminars, regional conferences, in-depth publications and social events.