Michael Seversen, Finance Expert in Coto de Caza, CA, United States
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Michael Seversen

Verified Expert  in Finance

Finance Expert

Location
Coto de Caza, CA, United States
Toptal Member Since
September 25, 2017

A Stanford graduate and a Harvard MBA, Michael has executed more than 100 M&A, equity and strategic planning transactions with a leading investment bank (Piper Jaffray), a top-tier private equity firm (Riverside) and a global strategic consulting firm (Monitor Company). He enjoys freelancing to help clients with complex transactions involving M&A, equity, strategic growth, valuation, and financial modeling.

Career Highlights

Founder
The Orchard Group
Vice President
The Riverside Company
Vice President
Piper Jaffray

Education Highlights

Bachelor's Degree
Stanford University

Case Studies

Work Experience

Founder

2003 - PRESENT
The Orchard Group
  • Executed the financial-and-strategic-consulting and advisory projects and M&A transactions for over 50 clients across multiple industries including technology, internet, online retail, food and beverage, manufacturing, sports, branded consumer products, vehicle rental services, restaurants, and medical devices.
  • Built numerous financial models for internal projections, external fundraising efforts, and sales of companies—resulting in over 25 successful M&A and equity transactions.
  • Completed business plans, private placement memorandums, selling memorandums, business presentations, and other financial materials.
  • Performed business valuations for more than 20 companies in industries ranging from restaurants to branded products companies to service companies.
  • Devised strategic growth plans, competitive analyses, value chain analyses, and other strategic initiatives for multiple clients in a variety of industries including food-&-beverage, technology, retail, sports, services, healthcare, and branded consumer products.
Focus areas: Strategic Planning, Business Planning, Valuation, Forecasting, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)

Vice President

1998 - 2002
The Riverside Company
  • Managed and led all the West Coast acquisitions and was responsible for leading the company's San Francisco office.
  • Acquired multiple companies on the West Coast, with transaction values ranging from $10 million to $125 million and in industries which included manufacturing, retail, leisure services, branded consumer goods, and computer services.
  • Performed all analyses for West Coast acquisitions, including financial modeling, business valuations, exit potential, investment outcomes, business outlook and management talent.
  • Prepared business opportunity memorandums and presentations to support acquisitions for banks and internal approval.
  • Sourced bank financing for each acquisition—ranging from $5 million to $100 million per transaction—which involved all communications and necessary materials, such as financial projections, coverage ratios, and financing memorandums.
  • Worked closely with all portfolio companies, budgeting financials and monitoring growth for companies in manufacturing, service, technology and retail industries.
Focus areas: Private Equity, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)

Vice President

1993 - 1998
Piper Jaffray
  • Assisted corporate clients in a wide range of transactions including M&A, initial public offerings and private placements in industries such as branded consumer products, technology, healthcare, services and food and beverage.
  • Built financial models, forecasts and projected outcomes for each transaction.
  • Conducted national and international road shows and presentations for initial public offerings, private placements, and M&A opportunities.
  • Engaged in financial negotiation, due diligence, and closings for each transaction.
  • Assisted the managing director in the raising of $50 million for a new venture capital fund under the umbrella of Piper Jaffray.
  • Sourced, evaluated, structured, and negotiated venture capital investments primarily in medical devices, technology, and service industries.
  • Oversaw the financial results and budgeting for multiple venture capital portfolio companies engaged in technology, services, and healthcare industries.
Focus areas: Venture Capital, Private Placements, Valuation, Initial Public Offerings, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)

Associate

1988 - 1991
Monitor Company, Inc.
  • Prepared detailed strategic analyses, financial analyses, and related presentation materials for major fortune 500 companies.
  • Conducted a national-and-international competitive analysis, strategic positioning, financial projections and valuation analysis for a global leader in tire manufacturing.
  • Performed a business segment outlook analysis concerning intelligent vehicle highway systems (intelligent cars) for a major aerospace client looking to diversify its target market for its technologies.
  • Identified global market opportunities, performed a competitive analysis, and prepared financial projections for a leader in the telecommunications industry.
  • Analyzed a pricing-and-sales segmentation and recommended a product-and-pricing strategy for one of the leading insurance companies in the U.S.
  • Evaluated and recommended options for a strategic integration of an acquisition done by a client in the materials and oil-&-gas industry, including financial projections for the merged companies.
  • Conducted a competitive positioning analysis, a pricing strategy analysis, and a product segmentation analysis for a leading retailer in Canada.
Focus areas: Strategy
1991 - 1993

Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree in General Management

Harvard Business School - Cambridge, MA, USA

1984 - 1988

Bachelor's Degree in Economics

Stanford University - Palo Alto, CA, CA

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