The Miami Finance Forum (MFF), South Florida’s leading financial services networking organization convened some of South Florida’s top leaders in the finance and tech industry to discuss the past and future of IPOs and M&As in the tech sector.
The sold-out crowd of over 60 participants that formed part of MFF’s “Lunch & Learn” series met at Morton’s Steakhouse in Brickell to hear views from players involved in the IPO and M&A markets. Participants gained valuable insight provided by expert speakers Celine Armstrong, managing director of investment banking and product management at S&P Capital IQ, and Cyrus F. Lam, managing director of technology at KPMG Corporate Finance, LLC, who led the presentations. Paul Berkowitz of Greenberg Traurig moderated the discussion.
“According to S&P Capital IQ Research, current economic fundamentals and strong global liquidity are making for a healthy M&A environment this year. Q1 2014 saw a significant increase in the number of IPOs over the same period in 2013, with healthcare and technology among the most prominent sectors for issuance,” said Celine Armstrong, who has spent 14 years in the Investment Bank industry. She is currently responsible for leading strategy and product development, as well as global coordination for Investment Banking and capital markets within S&P Capital IQ’s Product and Content organization.
According to Cyrus Lam, whose work focuses primarily on the technology sector, “The U.S. has led the world’s technology M&A activity, maintaining market share in both volume and value. Investors are paying premium valuations for technology market leaders, such as What’s App, Viber and Beats.” Cyrus brings significant cross-border experience having worked in KPMG’s Corporate Finance Practice in India, the United Kingdom and the United States.
“It was a pleasure to participate in Thursday’s event,” stated Paul Berkowitz. He added, “The presence of so many people from both the enterprise and financing sides further proves the importance of Miami in the business community of the Western Hemisphere.” Berkowitz has over 40 years of experience working in a wide range of industries, both domestically and internationally.
Among the organizations that supported the event were S&P Capital IQ, a multinational financial information provider and a division of Standard and Poor’s, and international law firm Greenberg Traurig.
The MFF is a not-for-profit organization supporting the growth of South Florida’s network of finance and investment professionals. It is dedicated to expanding the knowledge base and professional practices of its members, while ensuring that the region continues to attract and retain its top talent. Its membership roster is comprised of professionals experienced in private equity, hedge funds, venture capital, commercial banking, investment banking, wealth management, law, accounting and other related professional-services industries. Since its founding in 2006, the MFF has been known for its event series, including its panel discussions, private roundtables and happy hour mixers.