Strategic Session

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Ryan Mullin, Director, Head of Business Development, The Edgewater Funds 

Before joining Edgewater, Ryan served as a Manager at Rheem Manufacturing, where he specialized in M&A strategy, deal origination, process management, and investment execution. During his tenure at Rheem, he participated in over a dozen investments within the HVAC/R and Water Heating sectors.

Prior to Rheem, Ryan advised clients on M&A transactions at PKF O’Connor Davies in New York. He also gained valuable experience as a Private Equity Associate at Frazier Capital, working in both Boston and Limerick, Ireland. Ryan’s career began at Fidelity Investments.

Ryan received a Bachelor’s degree from the College of Charleston.

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Tony Hill, Principal, BD, Trivest

Tony joined Trivest in 2019. In addition to co-leading the firm’s Business Development team, Tony spearheads a number of strategic initiatives, such as its retained buy-side search program and independent sponsor initiative, among others. Prior to joining Trivest, Tony cofounded two technology companies. One of them, Dealnexus, was acquired by Intralinks and grew into the largest online deal sourcing network for mid-market M&A professionals in the world. Before launching Dealnexus, Tony was a Vice President of investment banking at Cross Keys Capital. He also previously worked at Siemens AG in Germany. Tony received his B.S. in Finance, as well as his M.B.A., from the University of Florida.

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Kapil Puri, Head of Mergers & Acquisitions, BIC International

Kapil Puri leads the Americas Mergers & Acquisitions efforts at BIC. BIC is a household name in the consumer products space known for bringing simplicity and joy to everyday life. For more than 75 years, BIC has honored the tradition of providing high-quality, affordable, essential products to consumers everywhere. BIC products are sold in over 160 countries, and BIC is one of the most recognized brands worldwide. In his role, Kapil is focused on M&A strategy, deal sourcing & pipeline development, and end to end deal execution as well as integration planning. Notable acquisitions by BIC in the last couple years include Tangle Teezer (hair care products), AMI (collaboration technologies), Inkbox (skin art) and Rocketbook (reusable notebooks), among others.   

Prior to joining BIC in 2021, Kapil was a Director of Investment Banking at Houlihan Lokey in New York focused on industrial technology clients. Previously he worked at Credit Suisse focused on M&A and Capital Markets deals in the diversified Industrials sector. He started his career as an analyst at Deutsche Bank in the internal strategy group.

Kapil earned an MBA in Finance and Entrepreneurship from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, and a Masters in Information Systems Management from Carnegie Mellon University. He is based out of New York and is active in sports specially Tennis and enjoys live music and the NYC comedy scene.

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MODERATOR: Nanette Heide, Partner, Troutman Pepper Locke

Nanette has significant experience in private equity, capital markets, and joint ventures. She has a proven track record of representing clients in complex mergers and acquisitions, including cross-border transactions and high-stakes deals in various industries such as consumer products, technology, cosmetics, retail and cannabis. Nanette advises on equity and asset purchases, strategic mergers and reverse takeovers, navigating multifaceted legal landscapes and helping clients to achieve optimal outcomes. Her skill in managing large-scale transactions and her approach to deal structuring have earned her a reputation as a trusted advisor in the M&A space.

In addition to her M&A practice, Nanette is well-versed in capital markets and securities transactions. She handles private placements and public offerings, guiding clients in structuring and executing transactions to achieve strategic and financing objectives. Having served as both a general counsel and chief financial officer, she offers a distinctive perspective that integrates business, legal, and financial considerations. Nanette is also a trusted resource for boards of directors and general counsels on governance, fiduciary duties, and other complex corporate matters.

Nanette frequently writes and speaks on corporate finance and private investing.