Derek is available for hire
Hire DerekDerek Avdul
Verified Expert in Finance
Finance Expert
Location
Los Angeles, CA, United States
Toptal Member Since
April 27, 2021
Derek is a finance expert with 20+ years of corporate development and M&A experience and expertise in business analysis, financial modeling, and financial and strategic planning. He has been an M&A sell-side advisor on $1 billion in small-business transactions and projects and an in-house finance and corporate development executive for major corporations. Derek's experience includes leading cross-functional teams at Sony, EY, EMI, Acuity Eye Group, PSI Services, and Woodbridge International.
Career Highlights
Vice President, Corporate Development
NVision Eye Centers
Director, Investment Banking – Mergers & Acquisitions
Woodbridge International
Education Highlights
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
DePaul University
Bachelor's Degree
Miami University (OH)
Case Studies
Expertise
Work Experience
Managing Partner (Mergers & Acquisitions)
2023 - PRESENT
Benchmark International
- Worked at Benchmark International's global offices that provide business owners in the middle market and lower middle market with creative, value-maximizing solutions for growing and exiting their businesses.
- Oversaw the California office and operations, including growing the sell-side M&A team, focusing on lower middle-market deals across industries. Typical deal values are between $5 million - $100 million.
- Managed deal teams in the creation of marketing materials, execution of the marketing strategy, buyer sourcing, letters of intent (LOI) negotiations, facilitation of the due diligence process, negotiation of the purchase agreement, and deal closing.
Focus areas: Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
Vice President, Corporate Development
2021 - 2022
NVision Eye Centers
- Led the buy-side M&A efforts, including sourcing, deal structuring, negotiations, closing, and hand-off to the integrations team.
- Oversaw the internal and external team during all aspects of deal execution, quality of earnings (QofE), due diligence, contract finalization, closing, and post-merger integration planning.
- Managed and was liable for business development efforts in generating new deal leads with specific EBITDA contribution targets.
- Assisted in driving the strategic direction of M&A efforts by working directly with the CEO, CAO, board, and private equity owners.
Focus areas: Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Excel Expert, Business Models, Financing, Business Strategy, Term Sheet Negotiations, Private Company Valuation, United States, Small & Medium-sized Enterprises (SME), Business Services
Senior Vice President, Corporate Development
2020 - 2021
Acuity Eye Group
- Led M&A strategy, pipeline management, deal structure, negotiations, deal execution, and post-close operational transitions.
- Directed strategic, financial, and operational analyses across the organization while overseeing cross-functional teams, including billing, operations, legal, and finance.
- Collaborated with the COO/CFO on post-closing financial and operational acquisition performance tracking of the four most recent transactions completed in 2020.
Focus areas: Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Financial Analysis, Cross-functional Team Leadership, Deal Analysis, Deal Execution, Business, Finance, Financials, Deal Structuring, Business Development, Investments, Due Diligence, Valuation, Valuation Modeling, Forecasting, P&L Forecasting, Revenue & Expense Projections, Excel Expert, Business Models, Business Strategy, Commercial Strategy, Term Sheet Negotiations, Private Company Valuation, United States, Small & Medium-sized Enterprises (SME), Business Services
Head of M&A and Business Development
2019 - 2020
PSI Services
- Led buy-side acquisition strategy, evaluation, execution, and post-close implementation. Worked with CEO, CFO, and private equity ownership (Waud Capital) to define the strategic direction and initiatives of the organization.
- Oversaw the final stages (board presentations, lender presentations, and private equity ownership signoff) of the Caliper acquisition, a leading global sales talent assessment company.
- Led the deal analysis, negotiations, and board presentations to complete the acquisition of Human Scope, a Hong Kong-based provider of employee assessment applications.
- Led the analysis and negotiations to finalize the buyout of three jointly owned international Caliper partner organizations: Caliper Australia, Caliper Singapore, and Caliper Canada.
Focus areas: Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Financial Analysis, Deal Analysis, Deal Execution, M&A Earn-out Agreements, Business, Finance, Financials, Deal Structuring, Business Development, Investments, Due Diligence, Valuation, Valuation Modeling, Forecasting, P&L Forecasting, Revenue & Expense Projections, Excel Expert, Cross-border M&A, Leveraged Buyout (LBO), Business Models, Financing, Cash Flow Modeling, Business Strategy, Term Sheet Negotiations, Private Company Valuation, United States, Small & Medium-sized Enterprises (SME), Business Services
Director, Investment Banking – Mergers & Acquisitions
2017 - 2019
Woodbridge International
- Led deal teams in marketing, structuring, negotiating, and closing sell-side transactions.
- Sold a $9 million, Arizona-based live-event video streaming organization to a large private equity group as part of its roll-up strategy.
- Sold a $50 million, California-based agriculture and industrial chemical company to a private equity group.
- Sold an $8 million, Hawaii-based hosting, colocation, and managed internet-as-a-service (IaaS) organization to a large national competitor.
- Sold a $13 million, California-based manufacturer, importer, and distributor of hardwood flooring to a large national competitor.
- Sold an $8 million, Idaho-based stone and gravel pit wholesale company to a private equity buyer.
- Sold a $10 million, California-based, cloud-focused hardware manufacturer, wholesaler, and distributor to a portfolio company of a private equity group.
Focus areas: M&A (Sell-side), Deal Advisory, Deal Analysis, Deal Execution, M&A Earn-out Agreements, Business, Finance, Financials, Deal Structuring, Business Plan Consulting, Due Diligence, Valuation, Valuation Modeling, Forecasting, P&L Forecasting, Revenue & Expense Projections, Information Memoranda, Business Models, Financing, Term Sheet Negotiations, Private Company Valuation, Rentals, United States, Small & Medium-sized Enterprises (SME), Business Services
Vice President – Corporate Development
2011 - 2017
Sony NMS
- Led a cross-border team, driving all corporate development, FP&A, M&A, modeling, and financial and strategic analyses.
- Drove negotiations with Sony sister companies (Sony Music, Sony Pictures, and Sony Network Entertainment) to secure global service agreements, deal structure, and pricing for all work performed.
- Led all aspects of post-merger financial integration and corporate strategy execution of Sony NMS’s acquisition of the Sony network entertainment services operating unit.
- Oversaw corporate, financial, and business planning for the global video division, driving strategic focus and financial pro forma plans; oversaw the global video P&L.
- Led a staff of 3-5 in US and UK billing and corporate planning with divisional responsibility for video services; restructured global monthly reporting processes and accrual procedures.
- Developed the business and pricing model for the launch of Venue, Sony NMS’s over-the-top television (OTT) channel service; negotiated partnership agreements with online video players (OVPs), rights and avails providers, and others for the service.
Focus areas: Corporate Development, Financial Analysis, Business Partnerships, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Post-merger Integration, Financial Modeling, Strategy, Cross-functional Team Leadership, Business Modeling, Deal Analysis, Deal Execution, Business Consulting, Business, Finance, Financials, Deal Structuring, Investment Analysis, Business Development, Business Plan Consulting, Investments, Due Diligence, Valuation, Valuation Modeling, Forecasting, P&L Forecasting, Revenue & Expense Projections, Excel Expert, Business Models, Financing, Cash Flow Modeling, Business Strategy, Commercial Strategy, Term Sheet Negotiations, Private Company Valuation, United States, Small & Medium-sized Enterprises (SME), Business Services
Independent Consultant
2002 - 2010
Galt Industries LLC
- Functioned as the de-facto CFO/COO, running my family's small business (Midwest Total Systems). Oversaw HR, finance and accounting, facilities, and project management. Led the reorganization of the company and sold it in two separate transactions.
- Created an integrated financial model for an educational software company's refinancing efforts.
- Developed a five-year strategic plan and financial objectives for large insurance specials.
- Created a financial model and forecast for a specialized outdoor clothing manufacturer to explore its strategic options and potential purchasers.
Focus areas: Financial Analysis, Strategic Planning, M&A (Sell-side), Business Plan Consulting, Financial Forecasting, Budgeting, Business Modeling, Deal Advisory, Deal Analysis, Deal Execution, Consulting, Business Consulting, Management Consulting, Business, Finance, Financials, Due Diligence Consultant, Due Diligence, Valuation, Valuation Modeling, Forecasting, P&L Forecasting, Revenue & Expense Projections, Information Memoranda, Part-time CFO, Virtual CFO, CFO, Business Models, Business Strategy, Commercial Strategy, Term Sheet Negotiations, Private Company Valuation, Rentals, United States, Small & Medium-sized Enterprises (SME), Business Services
Director – Strategic Planning
1999 - 2002
EMI Music
- Directed EMI’s annual and long-term strategic and financial planning process across all divisions.
- Led cross-functional teams in developing strategies and operational tactics for marketing, production, pricing, and personnel for the music catalog.
- Evaluated the sales potential, creative fit, and financial feasibility of record-label distribution agreements; negotiated pricing and key deal terms.
Focus areas: Strategic Planning, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Cross-functional Team Leadership, Business, Finance, Forecasting, P&L Forecasting, Revenue & Expense Projections, Business Models, Business Strategy, Term Sheet Negotiations, United States, Small & Medium-sized Enterprises (SME), Business Services
Manager – Mergers & Acquisitions
1995 - 1999
EY
- Led sell-side M&A deal teams and advised lower middle-market companies on purchase/sale procedures and negotiations.
- Performed cash flow valuations, developed internal communications, created confidential memoranda, negotiated with strategic and financial constituents, and executed transactions.
- Directed a broad base of strategic and financial analyses, including industry and company due diligence, financial modeling, capital structure evaluation, and operational performance review.
Focus areas: M&A (Sell-side), Financial Modeling, Deal Advisory, Deal Analysis, Deal Execution, Business, Finance, Valuation, Valuation Modeling, Forecasting, P&L Forecasting, Revenue & Expense Projections, Information Memoranda, Excel Expert, Business Models, Term Sheet Negotiations, Private Company Valuation, Rentals, United States, Small & Medium-sized Enterprises (SME), Business Services
Education
1993 - 1995
Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance
DePaul University - Chicago, IL, USA
1987 - 1991
Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration
Miami University (OH) - Oxford, OH, USA
Certifications
JULY 2018 - NOVEMBER 2019
FINRA Series 63
The Financial Industry Regulatory Association (FINRA)
JULY 2018 - NOVEMBER 2019
FINRA Series 79
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)
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