2026 NH Mergers & Acquisitions Conference

8:30 a.m. – Registration and Welcome

9:05 a.m. – State of the Market: Key M&A Trends

Presenters: Patrick Closson, McLane Middleton; Ramey Sylvester, McLane Middleton; John-Michael Girard, Peloton; Chris Annand, Baker Tilly

The M&A landscape continues to evolve amid shifting economic conditions, regulatory scrutiny, and changing buyer and seller expectations. This session will provide a timely overview of the current state of the market, highlighting key trends shaping deal activity across industries. Topics will include valuation dynamics, the impact of interest rates and capital availability, buyer and seller motivations, deal structures, and what market participants are seeing in today’s transactions. Attendees will gain practical insights to help assess opportunities, manage risk, and position themselves effectively in an increasingly competitive M&A environment.

9:45 a.m. – Powering the Deal: Financing Strategies in M&A Transactions

Presenters: Kimberly Kramer, McLane Middleton; Mike Kent, BellMark Partners; Joseph Alberghini, Eastern Bank; Alvin Reynolds, Woodland South Capital. 

Financing is a critical driver of successful M&A transactions and can significantly influence deal structure, timing, and risk. This session will explore the financing options commonly used in today’s M&A market, including institutional lender debt financing and private credit debt financing. Speakers will discuss how market conditions, interest rates, and lender expectations impact deal financing, key considerations for buyers and sellers when negotiating terms, as well as how these credit facilities are currently being structured and the additional legal requirements necessary to obtain the facility. Attendees will gain practical insights into structuring and securing financing to support transaction goals and power deals to the finish line.

10:30 a.m. – Break

10:45 a.m. – Preparing for Liquidity Before the Deal Starts

Presenters: Kendall Spencer, McLane Middleton; Whitney Alexander, McLane Middleton; Mitchell Stagnone, TSS Advisors; Connor McGuirk, Merrill Lynch

Successful transactions are often determined long before a deal is on the table. This session will focus on the critical legal, financial, and tax steps business owners and stakeholders can take to prepare for a future liquidity event. Speakers will discuss advance planning strategies to enhance value, address potential red flags, align internal teams and advisors early in the process, and ensure the seller has adequately planned for the liquidity event. Attendees will gain practical guidance on how thoughtful advance preparation can help ensure equity ownership is held optimally from an estate planning perspective, and put a business owner or stakeholder in an optimal financial and tax standpoint after the liquidity event takes place.

11:30 a.m. – Understanding Key Tax Structures in M&A Transactions

Presenters: John DeWispelaere, McLane Middleton; Amy Drake, McLane Middleton, Cory Vargo, Wipfli; Brian Corrigan Baker Tilly

Tax structure plays a pivotal role in shaping the economics and outcomes of M&A transactions for both buyers and sellers. This session will provide an overview of the most common tax structures used in M&A, including asset sales and stock sales, and examine how each impacts deal value, risk allocation, and post-closing outcomes. Speakers will address key considerations such as F- Reorganizations, tax elections (including 338(h)(10) elections), and how state corporate and personal income tax issues can impact transactions and transaction structures. Attendees will gain practical insight into how federal and state tax matters can impact and dictate the outcomes of various M&A transaction structures.

12:30 p.m. – Lunch

1:30 p.m. – Aligning Buyer and Seller: Driving Alignment Throughout the M&A Process

Presenters: Jesse Angeley, McLane Middleton; Stephanie Lee, McLane Middleton; John DeWispelaere, McLane Middleton; Josh LaPierre, Baker Newman Noyes; David Schneider, River Birch Partners LLC; Kohl Geibel, Bigelow LLC; Matt Nadeau, Nathan Wechsler

Successful M&A transactions require alignment between buyers and sellers on all aspects of a transaction. This session brings together attorneys, accountants, investment bankers, and private equity professionals to discuss how key transaction issues are viewed from both the buyer’s and seller’s perspective. The conversation will explore how different deal professionals analyze common friction points, where expectations tend to diverge, and how experienced advisors help parties navigate those differences to keep transactions moving toward closing.

3:00 p.m. –  Networking Reception