On September 28, at 6PM, the Wharton Retail Network invites you to join a Zoom webinar with a panel of seasoned private equity professionals on how they view the overall retail industry landscape, what they look for when evaluating retail opportunities and how Covid has changed their perspectives on the long term trends in the sector.
The panel will be moderated by Jonathan Tretler, Managing Director and Head of North America Consumer and Retail Investment Banking at HSBC. Our panelists include Allison Beller, Managing Director at Goldman Sachs; Matt Leeds, Partner at L Catterton; Aron Schwartz, Managing Partner at ACON Investments; and Jonathan Seiffer, Senior Partner at Leonard Green & Partners.
Discussion topics will include, but not be limited to:
About Jonathan Tretler:
Jonathan has been an investment banker covering the Consumer and Retail industries for nearly 25 years. He currently is a Managing Director and head of the North America Consumer & Retail Investment Banking practice at HSBC Securities Inc. He has advised clients on transactions with an aggregate value of over $200 billion and works closely with many of the leading industry players and private equity firms in the sector. Jonathan holds a BA from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Wharton.
About Allison Beller:
Allison is a Managing Director in the Merchant Banking Division at Goldman Sachs, focused on Consumer and Retail investments. She joined Goldman Sachs in 2005. Prior to joining the firm, Allison worked in the Investment Banking Division of Credit Suisse First Boston. Allison serves on the boards of Advanced Recovery Systems, Rhythm Energy, Visual Comfort and Zaxby’s. Allison earned a BS in Economics, cum laude, from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 2003.
About Matt Leeds:
Matt is a Partner in the Flagship Fund at L Catterton. Prior to joining the firm, Matt worked at Irving Place Capital in New York and Lake Capital in Chicago. Matt also worked in brand management at P&G and began his career as an investment banker at J.P. Morgan. Matt was an Omidyar Scholar at Tufts University and received an MBA with Honors from Wharton. He is also a former Co-President of Wharton’s Private Equity and Venture Capital Association.
About Aron Schwartz:
Aron is a Managing Partner at ACON Investments. He joined the firm in 2014 and previously was the founder of Constructivist Capital, a Managing Director at Avenue Capital Group and a Managing Director at Fenway Partners. He began his career in the Financial Sponsors Group at Salomon Smith Barney. Aron has co-led investments in or served as a board member for numerous private companies, including several in the consumer and retail industry. Aron holds a BA from the University of Pennsylvania, a BS from The Wharton School and a JD/MBA from UCLA.
About Jonathan Seiffer:
Jon is a Senior Partner at Leonard Green & Partners, LP, which he joined as an Associate in 1994. Prior to LGP, he worked in investment banking at DLJ’s Los Angeles office. Jon graduated from the University of Pennsylvania where he earned a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Systems Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Economics. Jon primarily focuses on investments in the consumer services and distribution industries. He is currently a board member of Authentic Brands Group, Aersale, Caliber Collision, Mister Car Wash, Signet, SRS Distribution, West Shore Home and Mariner Wealth Advisors.
If you would like to share your expertise with our alumni and participate on a future panel please contact Susan Teplitz, VP of Business Networking at businessnetworking@whartonny.com.
When:
Tuesday, September 28, 2021
6:00 PM ET - 7:30 PM ET
Cost:
WCNY Supporting Members - $10 (WCNY supporting membership costs $95/yr at Join/Renew Membership)
Other Wharton Alumni & Alumni Guests - $20
Gold & Benefactor Members - $0
Meeting Access Information:
A link, accessible by personal computer, tablet or smartphone, will be emailed to all registered guests 24-48 hours prior to the event to the "Primary Email" address listed in your profile. Please login to update your profile and confirm that the email address listed is correct. We will attempt to provide the ability to ask questions at the end of the presentation and time permitting.
By registering for this event, you agree to the following:
I understand that this session may be recorded and made available, and that my image, name, comments, or questions may appear on-screen.
Pre-registration is required. Please register early as events can and do sell out quickly.
Registration is subject to availability and will close on Tuesday, September 28th at 9:00am.
Registering from another Wharton alumni club? Click here for assistance.
Cancellations must be made at least 48-hours (business day) prior to the event date by sending an email to Gabriela Sanchez. Refunds or credits for future events are not available for any no-shows or late cancellations. Click here for full details.
The panel will be moderated by Jonathan Tretler, Managing Director and Head of North America Consumer and Retail Investment Banking at HSBC. Our panelists include Allison Beller, Managing Director at Goldman Sachs; Matt Leeds, Partner at L Catterton; Aron Schwartz, Managing Partner at ACON Investments; and Jonathan Seiffer, Senior Partner at Leonard Green & Partners.
Discussion topics will include, but not be limited to:
- Perspectives on bricks and mortar retailing
- The next frontier around e-commerce
- Covid as an accelerant of digitalization of the retail business
- Direct to consumer trends
- Amazon – friend or foe?
- Retail M&A/consolidation as a viable investment thesis
About Jonathan Tretler:
Jonathan has been an investment banker covering the Consumer and Retail industries for nearly 25 years. He currently is a Managing Director and head of the North America Consumer & Retail Investment Banking practice at HSBC Securities Inc. He has advised clients on transactions with an aggregate value of over $200 billion and works closely with many of the leading industry players and private equity firms in the sector. Jonathan holds a BA from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Wharton.
About Allison Beller:
Allison is a Managing Director in the Merchant Banking Division at Goldman Sachs, focused on Consumer and Retail investments. She joined Goldman Sachs in 2005. Prior to joining the firm, Allison worked in the Investment Banking Division of Credit Suisse First Boston. Allison serves on the boards of Advanced Recovery Systems, Rhythm Energy, Visual Comfort and Zaxby’s. Allison earned a BS in Economics, cum laude, from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 2003.
About Matt Leeds:
Matt is a Partner in the Flagship Fund at L Catterton. Prior to joining the firm, Matt worked at Irving Place Capital in New York and Lake Capital in Chicago. Matt also worked in brand management at P&G and began his career as an investment banker at J.P. Morgan. Matt was an Omidyar Scholar at Tufts University and received an MBA with Honors from Wharton. He is also a former Co-President of Wharton’s Private Equity and Venture Capital Association.
About Aron Schwartz:
Aron is a Managing Partner at ACON Investments. He joined the firm in 2014 and previously was the founder of Constructivist Capital, a Managing Director at Avenue Capital Group and a Managing Director at Fenway Partners. He began his career in the Financial Sponsors Group at Salomon Smith Barney. Aron has co-led investments in or served as a board member for numerous private companies, including several in the consumer and retail industry. Aron holds a BA from the University of Pennsylvania, a BS from The Wharton School and a JD/MBA from UCLA.
About Jonathan Seiffer:
Jon is a Senior Partner at Leonard Green & Partners, LP, which he joined as an Associate in 1994. Prior to LGP, he worked in investment banking at DLJ’s Los Angeles office. Jon graduated from the University of Pennsylvania where he earned a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Systems Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Economics. Jon primarily focuses on investments in the consumer services and distribution industries. He is currently a board member of Authentic Brands Group, Aersale, Caliber Collision, Mister Car Wash, Signet, SRS Distribution, West Shore Home and Mariner Wealth Advisors.
If you would like to share your expertise with our alumni and participate on a future panel please contact Susan Teplitz, VP of Business Networking at businessnetworking@whartonny.com.
When:
Tuesday, September 28, 2021
6:00 PM ET - 7:30 PM ET
Cost:
WCNY Supporting Members - $10 (WCNY supporting membership costs $95/yr at Join/Renew Membership)
Other Wharton Alumni & Alumni Guests - $20
Gold & Benefactor Members - $0
Meeting Access Information:
A link, accessible by personal computer, tablet or smartphone, will be emailed to all registered guests 24-48 hours prior to the event to the "Primary Email" address listed in your profile. Please login to update your profile and confirm that the email address listed is correct. We will attempt to provide the ability to ask questions at the end of the presentation and time permitting.
By registering for this event, you agree to the following:
I understand that this session may be recorded and made available, and that my image, name, comments, or questions may appear on-screen.
Pre-registration is required. Please register early as events can and do sell out quickly.
Registration is subject to availability and will close on Tuesday, September 28th at 9:00am.
Registering from another Wharton alumni club? Click here for assistance.
Cancellations must be made at least 48-hours (business day) prior to the event date by sending an email to Gabriela Sanchez. Refunds or credits for future events are not available for any no-shows or late cancellations. Click here for full details.