Insights
Meet The AffiliateMr. Bronzini Vender is a Partner and Co-Founder of
You began your career in mergers and acquisitions working for Jim Wolfensohn and Paul Volker, two legends in the financial community. What impact has this experience had on you?
It was truly an honor to learn from both of those individuals. Their dedication to their clients, combined with their high degree of industry focus and knowledge, allowed them to deliver outstanding results. A large portion of our work at Wolfensohn & Co. was related to transactions for long-term repeat clients of the firm in industries undergoing significant strategic change. While these industries always present a unique set of challenges, it is also very rewarding to see the impact that those transactions have had on long-term value creation for our clients.
What are your areas of focus in M&A?
For most of my career, I have worked for independent advisory firms, enabling me to avoid conflicts of interest inherently associated with the range of services provided by full-service investment banks. Over the years, I have developed significant expertise in the area of valuation and post-acquisition disputes related to these valuations. I have also worked on a number of transactions involving partnerships, joint
Are there any deals that you have worked on that you are particularly proud of?
That’s a tough question! There have been so many deals, and all of them are unique. I think two that stand out are Lavazza’s strategic alliance with Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (the maker of the Keurig machines), and the sale of 1-800 CONTACTS to Anthem. While neither of these
What kinds of litigation cases do you enjoy working on?
I have been fortunate to have worked on a number of cases, all of which have been extremely interesting and rewarding. I have found that clients benefit most when I can draw upon my real-world experience stemming from negotiating and structuring M&A transactions. For example, in one recent engagement, I was asked to opine on the feasibility of obtaining covenant waivers for a potential debt covenant violation arising from a proposed settlement in a large class action litigation. The company in question had a complex capital structure, including term loans and private placement notes that had
Similarly, I have worked on disputes over the adequacy of due diligence performed by private equity firms in making the investments, as well as cases involving breaches of representations and warranties in M&A transactions.
You were a Teaching Fellow in the Economics Department of Harvard University where you taught Financial Accounting, Microeconomics and Macroeconomics to undergraduate students. Has this experience helped you in your consulting assignments?
Absolutely. Teaching requires you to communicate complex concepts in a manner that allows students to understand and, hopefully, build upon them. It is always a challenge to keep students engaged. I have found that testifying presents similar challenges. The issues involved are often complex, but you have to ensure that all parties understand their subtleties. Teaching definitely helped me hone my skills in this respect.