Session Details
Current trends, opportunities and challenges in deal sourcing for PE firms
Will Dowden, Partner, KLH Capital
As a partner at KLH, Will is involved in all functions of the firm including originating, structuring, and executing new investments as well as portfolio management. During his tenure at KLH, he has participated in over 35 transactions, including platform investments, add-on acquisitions, and refinancing’s. He serves on the board of directors for all KLH portfolio companies and is directly responsible for overseeing Ground Works Solutions, MS Industrial, Victory Tailgate, and Apogee Translite. Additionally, he is a member of the KLH Investment Committee, oversees investor relations for the firm, and is the main contact for the firm’s limited partners.
Will, who grew up in Lexington, Kentucky, graduated from the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce with a Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce and minored in aerospace engineering. Prior to joining KLH, he spent time with Rothschild Investment Banking’s mergers and acquisitions group in New York. He serves on the board of the Association for Corporate Growth Tampa Bay Chapter and is active on the membership and Emerging Professionals steering committees.
Scott Lee, Managing Director, BelHealth Investment Partners
Mr. Lee has been with BelHealth since October 2016 and has more than 12 years of relevant private equity experience in the lower middle market healthcare industry. He serves on the Investment Committee of the Fund and is primarily involved in the origination, structuring, due diligence and overall management of selected portfolio investments. Mr. Lee serves as a Director of Care Advantage and Integrated Care Physicians.
Prior to BelHealth, Mr. Lee served as a Principal at HealthEdge Investment Partners, LLC, a lower middle market healthcare private investment, where he was involved in all of its platform investments and served as a Director of Woodbury Health Products, Infinity Homecare and MNG Laboratories.
Prior to HealthEdge, Mr. Lee was an Investment Analyst for Commonwealth Associates and the CARE Capital Group.
Mr. Lee is from Tampa, FL and received his BS in Commerce from the University of Virginia with concentrations in Finance, Accounting and Management.
Carlos Soto, Principal, Comvest Partners
Carlos is a Principal and Head of Business Development at Comvest, where he is responsible for identifying, originating, and qualifying new investment opportunities. Prior to joining Comvest, Carlos was an Associate Director at The Gores Group where he led origination for consumer, industrial, and special situations investments. Prior to The Gores Group, Carlos worked in private wealth management at Merrill Lynch. Carlos holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley.
Russ Wilson, Partner, Trivest
Mr. Wilson joined Trivest in 2006. He is involved in all aspects of the firm including the origination of investment opportunities, completing acquisitions, portfolio oversight and firm management. In addition, Mr. Wilson manages Trivest’s firm-wide deal sourcing programs. Mr. Wilson is a member of Trivest’s Investment Committee and serves as a Chairman or Board Member of numerous Trivest companies including Athletic Supply, Columbus Recycling, GAL Power Systems and Pelican Water Systems. Prior to joining Trivest, Mr. Wilson served as an Associate at PNC Equity Management and an investment banking Analyst at Raymond James. He received his B.A., with honors, from Eckerd College.
Moderator - David M. Doney, Partner, Akerman, LLP
David Doney focuses on M&A and public and private securities financings, corporate governance and compliance matters, as well as Securities Exchange Act reporting.
David’s clients include established public companies and privately held companies with significant growth potential in sectors ranging from IT solutions to pharmacy benefits management and underwater exploration. He works closely with these clients on their financings, leveraging his longstanding relationships with sources of equity and debt to identify and secure growth capital. In addition to his capital markets work, he represents both buyers and sellers in sophisticated M&A transactions.
A frequent guest lecturer, moderator, and panelist, David has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America as a leading practitioner of corporate law, securities/capital markets law, securities regulation law, and banking and finance law. Active in the community, David serves on the Leadership Council of the Tampa Bay Partnership and the boards of ACG-Tampa Bay and Athletes and Causes.