OPTIONAL PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP:

AEC Mergers & Acquisitions Essentials Workshop

Master the Essentials of AEC Mergers & Acquisitions

New to AEC M&A? Build the Knowledge to Make Smarter Deals.

Whether you’re new to mergers and acquisitions or looking to strengthen your foundation, the AEC Mergers & Acquisitions Essentials Workshop gives you the knowledge and confidence to make smarter decisions. Learn the core principles behind successful AEC transactions, backed by real-world deals and today’s market conditions.

In this immersive one-day workshop, you’ll discover how successful mergers, acquisitions, and firm sales come together. Through real case studies, practical exercises, and expert guidance, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of valuations, deal structures, common pitfalls, and the strategies that drive successful outcomes.

Available as a pre-conference workshop or a standalone program, this six-hour interactive experience is led by a seasoned M&A advisor with decades of experience helping AEC firms buy, sell, and grow with confidence.

This one-day intensive deep-dive will arm you with an understanding of fundamental M&A concepts and processes. You’ll leave with renewed confidence and the ability to:

Understand

the core valuation methods and deal structures driving today's AEC transactions

Identify

high-quality buyers or sellers — and know how to search without tipping off the market

Evaluate

Letters of Intent, including what to make binding versus non-binding

Assess

due diligence blind spots before they derail a deal

Develop

an integration plan to close the transaction and announce it to clients and employees

Agenda

Badge Pick Up and Networking Breakfast

The Right (And Wrong) Ways To Find The Right Buyer Or Seller

· Find potential buyers without letting anyone know the firm is for sale
· How to quickly separate high-quality sellers from sinking ships
· When to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement and terms to watch for

Million-Dollar Questions On Valuation And Transaction Terms

· Easy ways to avoid overpaying or leaving money on the table
· Proven strategies to bridge a valuation gap…and when to walk away
· Sharpen your skills with a hands-on valuation and negotiation exercise

Networking Lunch (provided)

Putting the Deal In Writing

· When is the time right to draft a Letter of Intent?
· Examples of actual LOIs and what goes into them
· What should be binding and what non-binding in an LOI?

Closing the Transaction and Integrating Firms

· Why deals fall apart after the LOI
· Easy to overlook details that derail transactions
· How to make the big announcement to clients and employees
· Real examples of successful acquisition integration plans

AEC M&A Essentials Workshop & AEC M&A Summit Cocktail Reception

Your AEC M&A Essentials Coaches

Mitchell Mafra, CM&AP

Mitchell Mafra, CM&AP, is an M&A Advisor at PSMJ, where he focuses on performing valuations and providing advisory services for both sell-side and buy-side clients. He has a proven track record working on over 20 M&A deals in the AEC space, including transactions with publicly traded AE firms, private equity, family offices, and various strategic buyers. As a member of the M&A Advisory Practice at PSMJ, Mitchell has contributed to the M&A Insider publication and the M&A Essentials educational program for firm owners. He teaches the M&A process at the M&A Essentials Workshop for owners. Prior to joining PSMJ in 2021, Mitchell worked at Adage Capital Management, L.P., a major Boston-based hedge fund with over $44B in assets under management, focused on the industrial and energy sectors.

Kevin Pitts

Kevin Pitts provides advisory support to the valuation, ownership transition, and mergers & acquisitions practices at PSMJ. As both a finance executive and advisor, Kevin has worked with founder-led and private equity–backed companies on buy-side and sell-side M&A, valuations, financings, and ownership transitions totaling more than $11 billion in transactions. He brings a unique combination of corporate development, finance, and advisory expertise to PSMJ’s M&A, valuation, and ownership transition practices. Kevin’s experience spans professional services, energy, industrials, construction, real estate, and healthcare, where he has consistently helped founder-led and private equity–backed companies execute effective growth, transition, and exit strategies. Kevin began his career in public accounting before moving into finance, M&A, and project development roles. His first exposure to complex transactions came at Competitive Power Ventures, a private equity-backed energy developer, where he closed more than $7 billion in project financings, refinancings, and sales of landmark projects. He later advanced into senior finance leadership roles in healthcare and industrials, supporting acquisitions and financings exceeding $2 billion through innovative capital structures.