Finance Society Hosts First Event of the Year with Transformative Mergers & Acquisitions Panel

The Finance Society kicked off its annual calendar by hosting a captivating Mergers & Acquisitions Discussion Panel on February 14, 2024, at the Texas A&M University-Commerce College of Business. Open to all students at the college, the event attracted an audience of over 40 attendees, including students, faculty and staff, both present in person and remotely.

A distinguished panel of industry experts was invited to take part in this discussion and featured Rocky Miracle, Senior Vice President of Corporate Planning and Development for El Paso Electric, Javar Avery, President at Sun & Moon Capital, as well as David Waiyaki, an Associate at Objective, Investment Banking & Valuation.

Dean of the College of Business, Scott Wheeler, lent his extensive expertise to moderate the panel discussion, emphasizing the pivotal role of financial models in the Mergers & Acquisitions landscape, drawing from his background in the private business industry before transitioning to academia.

Delving deeper into the intricacies of mergers and acquisitions, Miracle shared invaluable insights into the delicate balance between the “good vs. bad” aspects of a deal and the complexities of merging corporate cultures. Avery, who is a returning guest speaker at the college, offered a nuanced perspective on the different types of deals encountered by his company while shedding light on the distinctions between stock sales and asset sales. Alumnus Waiyaki brought a personal touch to the discussion, underscoring the transformative potential of events like these in cultivating connections and networks for emerging business professionals.

Kaci Goggans, President of the Finance Society expressed gratitude for the opportunity to host the panel.

“It was an incredible event, and I am thankful for the insight our speakers shared,” Goggans said.

She emphasized how such events align with A&M-Commerce's commitment to transforming lives by imparting practical knowledge and expanding students' horizons.

Allyson Cothern, Vice President of the Finance Society, highlighted the event’s impact, noting, “The mergers & acquisitions panel discussion was a great experience for students to connect with industry experts, learning about strategy, risks, and challenges that go into determining what makes a great deal and what doesn’t.”