UC Team Takes Second-Annual ACG Cup

UC’s team took top honors in the mergers and acquisitions case competition once again, this time against runner-up Miami University and third place University of Dayton. Also competing were Xavier University and Northern Kentucky University.

The ACG Cincinnati Cup is a mergers and acquisitions-based case competition created in 2008 by the Cincinnati chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG), a global organization for professionals involved in corporate growth, development and mergers and acquisition.

Required to analyze a complex merger and acquisition case study, competitors tested their corporate strategy, finance and valuation skills in formulating recommendations to present to “management” — or in this case, the judges — composed of ACG members, local business men and women and university representatives. Once presented with the case, students had only two weeks to develop and prepare their recommendations for the first-round competition, held at their own institutions.

Judges then selected a team from each school to take on their regional competitors in the final round. The teams chosen to advance were presented with a new case for the final round. Teams had an additional two weeks to analyze the new case and polish their presentation skills. Graduate students Dan Barnett, Jennifer Frankenberg, Tosha Moorer, Mike Neugent and Stephen Toerner represented UC at the competition held February 25 at the Kingsgate Marriott near the UC campus.

"I am exceptionally proud of the hard work these students put in to bring home the ACG Cup,” Dean Will McIntosh commented on the success of the UC team. “The skill and professionalism evident in their presentation demonstrate their ability to put theory into practice, with impressive results.”

"Participating in the ACG Cup Competition has been an experience that truly defines my MBA career," said student Barnett. "Working with my teammates in a challenging, realistic and demanding business environment has provided me with lessons that go beyond the classroom. I will certainly use this experience to further sharpen my skills and abilities and will always treasure the connections made with my fellow classmates, faculty, and local business leaders throughout this process."

The winning UC team presented a superior analysis of the case study: a private equity fund’s acquisition of a privately held apparel designer, distributor and retailer. For this, the UC team received a $4,000 cash prize for winning the competition, which awarded $10,500 in total prize money. The team received support from coaches and advisors including Will McIntosh, Robert Dwyer, Chris Allen, Andrea Dixon, Michael Ferguson, Tim Sale, Steve L. Slezak and Jens Stephan. In addition, Jackie Elcik and the College of Business Graduate Office staff were instrumental in coordinating with ACG Cincinnati. Seven ACG Cincinnati member executives served as judges, while approximately 50 professionals attended the final round. The 2009 presenting sponsor was Northwestern Mutual-The Kelley Financial Group. Other sponsors included Advanced Testing Laboratory, Cooney, Faulkner & Stevens, Duke Energy, KeyBank, Fidelity Investments, The Malibu Group, ComStock Advisors and Commerce Bank.

About ACG Cincinnati
The ACG Cincinnati Cup competition was conducted by ACG Cincinnati, a chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth, the premier global organization for professionals involved in corporate growth, corporate development, and mergers and acquisitions. ACG Cincinnati was formed in 1993 and has more than 250 members from corporations, accounting and law firms, financial institutions, consultants, and other enterprises dedicated to corporate growth.

Read the Association for Corporate Growth news release announcing all the 2009 winners.