In Silicon Valley mergers and acquisitions have become a prominent exit strategy for early-stage startups. However, these are different from M&As of more established companies.
Even people with experience in the latter may balk at some of the questions that the former poses. How is the start-up valuated? How are the founders motivated to stay with the company after the acquisition? How much time between the initiation of the M&A and its completion? How should the company be managed during that period?
This forum will explore these and other questions contrasting traditional M&As that many Japanese companies have experienced with the new tendencies in Silicon Valley. Actual players, both in the startup and in the acquiring sides will participate in the forum and offer new perspectives on M&As.
Dennis Doucette is the Chair of the Corporate and Securities Practice Group at
Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP, where he helps companies get formed,
funded and sold. He graduated from the University of Southern California in 1983,
and from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1986. Mr. Doucette has
participated in over 300 corporate finance transactions. He is also an Adjunct
Professor at the University of San Diego School of Law teaching Business Planning.
Mitch Kitamura launched JAIC's US investment arm in 2000, and brings a
comprehensive background in business expansion between Asia and US, having
invested across 30 startups. Prior to Draper Nexus, his investments have yielded 3
successful M&As - Solidcore (Symantec), W.I.S Technologies (Micronas), Cerberian
(Blue Coat Systems) and 2 IPOs - Mediaplex and Fortinet. At Draper Nexus, he
specializes in Consumer/ Enterprise Internet Services, and Mobile in US and Japan.
He has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Curtin University of Technology in
Australia and an MA in Economics from Boston University.
is a Principal in PwC’s Deals Practice. Chad performs valuations of
businesses, various classes of capital structure, and intangible assets for purposes
including reporting requirements and strategic consulting. He has extensive
experience in a wide range of sectors with particular focus in technology. Prior to
joining the Bay Area practice, Chad led the Midwest PE valuation practice in which he
covered a range of industries and PE strategies throughout the life cycle of an
investment. Chad has an M.B.A in Finance and Corporate Accounting from the
University of Rochester and earned the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA)
designation granted by the CFA Institute.
Greg Sato is a Managing Counsel in Intel’s Patent Licensing Group, which focuses
on counseling and advising in connection with worldwide patent transactions, such
as licenses, cross-licenses, acquisitions and sales, as well as related corporate
patent strategy. Prior to joining Intel, Greg worked at a semiconductor services
startup in Silicon Valley and at Fenwick & West, a national technology-focused law
firm that is based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He holds a B.S. in electrical
engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, an M.S. in electrical engineering
from UCLA and a J.D. from the University of California - Hastings.
Masaya Hirano is a partner of TMI Associates. Masaya is qualified as a lawyer in
Japan and the State of New York. Masaya’s expertise lies in corporate and corporate
finance, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, venture capital transactions and
other strategic transactions for clients ranging from established companies to highgrowth,
high-profile technology companies in Japan, the U.S. and abroad. While
Masaya has deal experience in a wide range of industries, his recent practice is
heavily-weighted in the technology sector. Masaya is identified as one of the leading
players in the TMT sector Japan by Who’s Who Legal 2014.
Thursday, March 26, 2015
Registration/Networking: 5:30 PM – 6:00 PM
Program: 6:00 PM – 8:15 PM
Networking: 8:15 PM – 9:00 PM
$15: Early Bird Discount for first 30 registrations by March 14 (11PM)
$20: Regular Registration by Sunday, March 22 (11 PM)
$35: Late Registration by Wednesday, March 25 (Noon)
$50: Walk-ins (Seats are limited and may not be available)
Food, including sushi and beverages, will be served.
