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Assessing SPACs as an Institutional Allocation
About This Webinar
In the current market, where investors have lofty return objectives and limited optionality on how to meet those objectives while maintaining an acceptable risk profile, an allocation to SPACs should be considered.
Leveraging their deep market knowledge as a SPAC investor, a SPAC sponsor, and as a leader of a company that has gone public via the SPAC structure, the panel will work to address the potential suitability of a SPAC allocation within an institutional portfolio.
Categories:
BUSINESS & FINANCE
Who can view: Everyone
Webinar Price: Free
Featured Presenters
SPAC Portfolio Manager, Easterly Alternatives
Evan Ratner is a SPAC Portfolio Manager at Easterly Alternatives and a Senior Securities Analyst for Levin Easterly, with a sector focus on diversified financials, bank and consumer.
Mr. Ratner has 13 years of buy side experience of which 5 years are with Levin. Mr. Ratner began his career as a trader at Richmond Capital before becoming an analyst at Charter Advisors, both family offices.
Mr. Ratner holds an undergraduate degree in finance from Emory University and an MBA from NYU’s Stern School of Business.
Mr. Ratner has 13 years of buy side experience of which 5 years are with Levin. Mr. Ratner began his career as a trader at Richmond Capital before becoming an analyst at Charter Advisors, both family offices.
Mr. Ratner holds an undergraduate degree in finance from Emory University and an MBA from NYU’s Stern School of Business.
CEO, Qell Acquisition Corp.
Barry Engle is Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Qell Acquisition Corp., a SPAC focused on next-gen mobility and transportation, which launched on the Nasdaq in September 2020. He has experience in operational, financial and managerial roles within the international automotive sector, as well as growth-oriented companies across various industries.
Mr. Engle spent the previous five years serving in senior executive roles at General Motors Company (“GM”). From April 2019 through August 2020, Mr. Engle served as President of GM North America, which is GM’s largest segment with $100+ billion in 2019 revenue. Under his leadership, GM frequently beat Wall Street research analysts’ consensus operating income expectations, including during the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. During his tenure, GM also achieved significant retail market share gains in the important full-size pickup segment. In addition to his responsibilities for GM North America, Mr. Engle was Global Head of Chevrolet and served on the board of GM’s China joint venture. Before this, Mr. Engle served as the President of GM International, where he significantly restructured its Asian operations, including driving a rapid turnaround in its Korean business by working with unions, the government, and suppliers. Mr. Engle joined GM in September 2015 as President of GM South America, leading the business unit through the region’s economic recession and achieving market leadership in Brazil, the region’s largest market, for 50+ consecutive months while reorganizing the business to improve its profitability.
Prior to joining GM, Mr. Engle spent time leading high growth, private equity and venture capital backed companies, serving as Chief Executive Officer of Agility Fuel Solutions and of European electric vehicle manufacturer Think EV. Before joining Think EV, Mr. Engle spent two years as President and CEO of New Holland Agricultural Equipment in Turin, Italy. Mr. Engle also spent a number of years with Ford Motor Company where he served as President & CEO of Ford Canada, President of Ford Brazil, and led U.S. Marketing for the Ford brand. During his early career with Ford, Mr. Engle also spent time living and working in Mexico and Japan, where he was responsible for Mazda’s global brand strategy. Finally, Mr. Engle has previously led an entrepreneurial endeavor of his own. During the period 1997-2000, he sourced and executed an acquisition, purchasing and operating a retail automotive dealership in the Salt Lake City metro area, Barry Engle Chrysler-Plymouth-Jeep.
Mr. Engle holds a BA in Economics, with a minor in Spanish, from Brigham Young University as well as an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Engle has also served on the National Advisory Council for the Marriott School of Business at Brigham Young University since 2006.
Mr. Engle spent the previous five years serving in senior executive roles at General Motors Company (“GM”). From April 2019 through August 2020, Mr. Engle served as President of GM North America, which is GM’s largest segment with $100+ billion in 2019 revenue. Under his leadership, GM frequently beat Wall Street research analysts’ consensus operating income expectations, including during the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. During his tenure, GM also achieved significant retail market share gains in the important full-size pickup segment. In addition to his responsibilities for GM North America, Mr. Engle was Global Head of Chevrolet and served on the board of GM’s China joint venture. Before this, Mr. Engle served as the President of GM International, where he significantly restructured its Asian operations, including driving a rapid turnaround in its Korean business by working with unions, the government, and suppliers. Mr. Engle joined GM in September 2015 as President of GM South America, leading the business unit through the region’s economic recession and achieving market leadership in Brazil, the region’s largest market, for 50+ consecutive months while reorganizing the business to improve its profitability.
Prior to joining GM, Mr. Engle spent time leading high growth, private equity and venture capital backed companies, serving as Chief Executive Officer of Agility Fuel Solutions and of European electric vehicle manufacturer Think EV. Before joining Think EV, Mr. Engle spent two years as President and CEO of New Holland Agricultural Equipment in Turin, Italy. Mr. Engle also spent a number of years with Ford Motor Company where he served as President & CEO of Ford Canada, President of Ford Brazil, and led U.S. Marketing for the Ford brand. During his early career with Ford, Mr. Engle also spent time living and working in Mexico and Japan, where he was responsible for Mazda’s global brand strategy. Finally, Mr. Engle has previously led an entrepreneurial endeavor of his own. During the period 1997-2000, he sourced and executed an acquisition, purchasing and operating a retail automotive dealership in the Salt Lake City metro area, Barry Engle Chrysler-Plymouth-Jeep.
Mr. Engle holds a BA in Economics, with a minor in Spanish, from Brigham Young University as well as an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Engle has also served on the National Advisory Council for the Marriott School of Business at Brigham Young University since 2006.
Co-Founder / CFO / COO, Open Lending LLC
Since co-founding both in 2000, Ross has served as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operations Officer of Open Lending, LLC and Lenders Protection, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Open Lending, LLC. He oversees all aspects of financial and operational business at Open Lending, LLC and Lenders Protection, LLC and subsidiaries. Through his efforts, the company has secured all necessary investment capital since inception. Ross co-leads national account sales to large financial institutions and captives, along with key customer support relations for the company. He has successfully developed key relationships with outside actuaries, investors, and insurance partners that have been instrumental in the company’s growth. Ross is the subject matter expert with regard to the Lenders Protection product and risk-based pricing solution.
Under his leadership, Open Lending has been named to the Austin Business Journal’s “FAST 50” list five times, recognizing the fastest growing private companies in Central Texas. The company has also been named twice to the “INC 5000” list of fastest growing private companies nationwide and been named a “Best Place to Work” in Central Texas for three years. Additionally, Ross has been awarded the “Best CFO in Central Texas” by the Austin Business Journal.
Ross brings a diverse background in corporate operations. He has extensive experience in public accounting for national firms such as Arthur Andersen. Ross has unique expertise and specialization in the areas of mergers, acquisitions, taxation, and financing transactions.
Ross has been an active partner in various investment funds that provide early and later stage capital to technology-related companies over the past 25 years. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants, and the Young Entrepreneurs Organization.
Ross received his BA in Accounting from The University of Mississippi in Oxford, Mississippi. He is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in the state of Texas. In his free time, Ross enjoys the outdoors, hunting, playing tennis, and golf. He and his wife, Lisa, reside in Austin, Texas with their four sons. He serves on several non-profit boards including Westlake Pop Warner, 12 Fields Foundations, the local Boy Scouts of America chapter, and others.
Under his leadership, Open Lending has been named to the Austin Business Journal’s “FAST 50” list five times, recognizing the fastest growing private companies in Central Texas. The company has also been named twice to the “INC 5000” list of fastest growing private companies nationwide and been named a “Best Place to Work” in Central Texas for three years. Additionally, Ross has been awarded the “Best CFO in Central Texas” by the Austin Business Journal.
Ross brings a diverse background in corporate operations. He has extensive experience in public accounting for national firms such as Arthur Andersen. Ross has unique expertise and specialization in the areas of mergers, acquisitions, taxation, and financing transactions.
Ross has been an active partner in various investment funds that provide early and later stage capital to technology-related companies over the past 25 years. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants, and the Young Entrepreneurs Organization.
Ross received his BA in Accounting from The University of Mississippi in Oxford, Mississippi. He is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in the state of Texas. In his free time, Ross enjoys the outdoors, hunting, playing tennis, and golf. He and his wife, Lisa, reside in Austin, Texas with their four sons. He serves on several non-profit boards including Westlake Pop Warner, 12 Fields Foundations, the local Boy Scouts of America chapter, and others.
Managing Director, Levin Easterly Partners
Chris Wallace is a Managing Director at Levin Easterly Partners. Mr. Wallace executed Easterly’s $200mm SPAC merger with Sirius Group, which closed with a $213mm PIPE backstopped by Bain, Carlyle, Centerbridge and Gallatin Point.
Mr. Wallace was also the Head of Syndicate at CAIS and before that the Co-Head of Equity Capital Markets at Sterne Agee CRT. Previously, Mr. Wallace was in equity capital markets at UBS. He started his capital markets career in convertible origination at Deutsche Bank. Mr. Wallace has 15 years of experience and over $15 billion of ECM transaction expertise with a specific focus in SPACs.
Mr. Wallace earned a B.S. from the London School of Economics.
Mr. Wallace was also the Head of Syndicate at CAIS and before that the Co-Head of Equity Capital Markets at Sterne Agee CRT. Previously, Mr. Wallace was in equity capital markets at UBS. He started his capital markets career in convertible origination at Deutsche Bank. Mr. Wallace has 15 years of experience and over $15 billion of ECM transaction expertise with a specific focus in SPACs.
Mr. Wallace earned a B.S. from the London School of Economics.
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