$100M is SMB Deals at Dealmakers Summit

"Dealmakers' Summit Franchising Capitalized"

Aims to Facilitate $100M in Deals

Private Equity 'Dealmaking' Event Debuts in Chicago

Frustrated with inefficiencies that prevent franchisors and multi-unit franchisees access to billions of dollars in available private equity funds, a determined Chicago-area franchising industry executive has organized a cutting-edge event that could result in over $100 million in deals being done in a single day.

"Dealmakers' Summit | Franchising Capitalized," to be held August 28-29, 2012 at the Hotel Sofitel in Chicago, is the first event of its kind to focus on connecting private equity with franchisors and multi-unit franchisees who are seeking funding.

"There is an abundance of money in the marketplace eagerly waiting to be invested, but the path from the money to companies who need it is neither straight nor efficient," said Susan E. Black-Beth, chief operating officer for Super Wash, Inc. and well-known figure in the franchising community. "This event will place money in the hands of companies focused on growth, innovation and profitability. The resulting effect will be job creation, a bolstered economy and an all-around strengthened franchise community."

As a past chair of the International Franchise Association's Women's Franchise Committee, and the co-founder and past co-chairwoman of the Chicago Women's Franchise Network, Black-Beth has been both a franchisor and a multi-unit franchisee, familiar with the struggles that both face in gaining access to capital.

"The opportunity to match brands needing capital partners with capital partners looking to invest in brands is a great idea," says Geoff Hill, Vice President Roark Capital. "There are many brands that need a capital partner in order to achieve the next level of growth. This event is a perfect opportunity to bring capital to the table for the smaller, up and coming brands to help them reach that next level."

To maximize the effectiveness and solidify the integrity of this event, attendance will be limited to 100 participants. All participants will be pre-qualified prior to the event in order to best ensure the opportunity for meaningful connections. With private equity firms looking to finalize deals before the end of the year, Black-Beth predicts this event could produce $100 million in transactions.

Each Franchisor/Franchisee company will be assigned a presentation time where they will present their opportunity to the equity firms/investors. Later in the day, the firms will select the companies with whom they would like to meet with one-on-one. These meetings will be conducted privately to keep sensitive information confidential.

Tabbassum Mumtaz, President and CEO, Apex Restaurant Management, Inc.
has this to say, "It took me 5 years, several referrals and 18 conferences/conventions to get my first one-on-one with an investor or a banker, but once I made that first connection there was no looking back. 165 restaurants and 18 years later, I know this conference will be the best opportunity for multi-unit franchisees to find growth partners. See you in Chicago!"

For more information about the Dealmakers' Summit, visit www.dealmakersummit.com.