ACG InterGrowth 2006 Is a Huge Success, Attracts More Than 1,300 Dealmakers

ACG held its 35th annual InterGrowth conference in Orlando last month, attracting well over 1,300 dealmakers as its membership cruised past the 10,000-member mark. “With the white-hot M&A market and private equity fundraising and investments at record levels, InterGrowth placed ACG members at the center of the world’s largest dealmaking platform,” said Dan Varroney, ACG President and CEO. The three-day event, held at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Hotel, featured an exceptional array of speakers, panels, and networking/dealmaking opportunities. Basketball coach Rick Pitino, comedian Ben Stein, and Dennis Cuneo of Toyota were featured speakers, and they left lasting impressions on attendees. InterGrowth also provided countless dealmaking and networking opportunities during the event, one being a DealSource speed dating session where intermediaries and PEGs mingled for several minutes at a time in the hopes of striking new business relationships. “InterGrowth is a valuable event for us to attend,” said Michael Joe, a Managing Director at Nautic Partners. “Between the Capital Connection and DealSource speed dating,’ InterGrowth is very efficient, allowing us to meet many intermediaries in a short period of time. There are a number of opportunities we learned about at InterGrowth that we’re following up on.” At the InterGrowth Capital Connection trade show, 110 private equity firms represented $63 billion under management – $40 billion of which was un-invested, Varroney noted. “There was a lot of dry powder waiting for the right deal,” he said. A hot M&A market, unparalleled deal flow opportunities, and a burgeoning membership made the 35th Annual InterGrowth a rousing success. (c) 2006 Mergers and Acquisitions Journal and SourceMedia, Inc. All Rights Reserved. http://www.majournal.com http://www.sourcemedia.com