September 15 - M&A Forum

Join us on September 15 at 11:30 a.m. for the M&A Forum! Reach out for more information, and be sure to connect with presenters with the links below.

TOPIC: "The State of the Deal Market"

PANELISTS: Craig Scheef, Daniel K. Vermiere, Eric L. Kraft and Kevin Cross

MODERATOR: Robert Fragnito

WHEN: Tuesday | September 15 | 11:30 - 1:00 PM

WHERE: The University of Texas at Dallas, JSOM I, Room 1.606, 1st floor

The Business Navigators M&A Forum is an education-focused environment where business owners can learn how to prepare for a future sale without pressure, solicitation, or obligation.

The State of the Deal Market: What’s Impacting Today’s Private Transaction Market?

The session is designed for business owners who want to better understand how to prepare their company for a future sale, debt and fundraising trends, hot industries and sectors, and what is currently impacting buyers and investors.Moderated by Robert Fragnito, COO, MCF Capital Management LLC, we have a distinguished panel of professionals including:

• Kevin Cross, Senior Managing Director, Cerberus Capital Management
• Eric Kraft, Dallas Market President for Broadway Bank
• Craig Scheef, Founder, Chairman, & CEO, Texas Security Bank
• Daniel Vermiere, Managing Director and Principal at Corporate Finance Associates

The discussion will cover practical topics including:

• Current state of deal quality, hot industries, and in-demand sectors
• Fundraising, PE, and senior and mezzanine debt trends
• Economic, Fed, fiscal, and regulatory policy impact on the private deal market

This forum is intentionally structured as a no-solicitation, educational environment. The goal is to share insights and help business owners prepare thoughtfully for the future of their company.

Who Should Attend

Small to mid-market business owners considering selling their company, potential buyers, and service providers

When & Where

September 15, 2026 at 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.; Lunch will be provided

University of Texas at Dallas (800 W Campbell Rd, Richardson, TX 75080

Executive Dining Room (located in the Jindal School of Management)

Parking

Parking Structure 1 - 2500 Drive G, Richardson, TX 75080 (use this address in your maps apps)

NOTE: A Parking Pass will be provided 1 week before the event, be sure to print out and place on dashboard to avoid being ticketedDirections to the Executive Dining Room

• Exit the parking structure and head toward the Davidson Gundy Alumni Center.
• Keep left and walk uphill toward the building with the large glass panels across Franklyn Jenifer Drive.
• You'll arrive at a covered outdoor courtyard with an outdoor staircase on your left.
• From there, simply follow the event signs, and a JSOM staff member will be available to point you to the Executive Dining Room.

The Business Navigator’s M&A Forum brings buyers and sellers together so they can more effectively multiply their opportunities and make good deals, all while enjoying great speakers and lively panel discussion on a range of M&A topics of interest.Unlike other M&A forums, our participants do not network to solicit business from each other but instead draw upon the experience and wisdom of trusted professionals and their expansive circles of influence. Participants are privy to a wealth of resources not available in other organizations, all at no cost.

About Business Navigators

Business Navigators, a member-led non-profit equipping business leaders to grow, connect and give back to each other, aims to increase awareness of the forum among small- and mid-market business owners, investors and advisers throughout North Texas.

More information: M&A Forum - Business Navigators

How it Works

• Both sellers and buyers are offered the assistance of experienced Forum intermediaries to help facilitate and guide the process.
• Buyers are provided a consolidated list of businesses that are on the market as well as acquisition strategies, targets and guidance in negotiating, funding, transferring and help in integrating companies.
• Additionally, all participants are supported with experts in the many ancillary services required to bring the deal from conception to completion including:
• — Private equity and other investor organizations
• — Bankers and other lenders
• — Business and equipment valuators
• — M&A attorneys, accountants, and tax advisors
• — Personnel companies and organizational consultants
• — Business transition and integration experts
• — Specialty service providers to principals
• — Wealth management and financial planning
• — Family offices

Personal guidance and the disclosure of confidential information is done outside Forum meetings with the proper safeguards in place.

PARKING INFORMATION:

Parking Structure 1 - 2500 Drive G, Richardson, TX 75080 (use this address in your maps apps) Additional parking is available in Lot M.