UMD-Smith Hosts M&A Competition; Tepper Wins

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Oct. 28 2014 – Students representing some the country’s top MBA programs competed to offer the best pitch in the University of Maryland Robert H. Smith School of Business 8th annual Mergers and Acquisitions Competition, held Oct. 23-24 at the university’s College Park campus.

A team from the Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School of Business captured the $5,000 first prize, followed by competitors from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management ($2,500) and the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business ($1,000).

The competitors analyzed a hypothetical case based on the Internet Software & Services industry. They plotted and pitched their merger and acquisition alternatives to a panel of judges including corporate executives.

"The competition simulates real life pretty closely,” said one of the judges, Seabrook Partners Vice President Frantz Casseus. “Given the time and data constraints, the students came up with some very impressive products.”

The teams, with up to four members each, used data tools from event sponsor Standard and Poor’s Capital IQ to prepare their analyses. 

“Global mergers and acquisition content is one of S&P Capital IQ’s core strengths,” said Howard Bernheim, director of client development for S&P Capital IQ. “The caliber, talent and brain power, and hard effort that these students brought from around the country and world ­­­– all converging for an intense two days – is truly impressive. All of these students have a bright future ahead.”

They were judged upon their qualitative arguments and the quantitative models used to support their arguments.

“This event drives MBA students to create business solutions through analyzing data, and synthesizing information from multiple sources, said Alexander Triantis, dean of the Robert H. Smith School of Business. “At Smith, we’re committed to bringing such reality-based opportunities to every class, and we’re pleased to involve students from other top schools in this process through the competition.”

In addition to the prizewinning teams, competitors represented:

• Boston University's School of Management 
• College of William & Mary’s Raymond A. Mason School of Business 
• Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management 
• Southern Methodist University’s Cox School of Business 
• Texas Christian University’s Neeley School of Business 
• University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics 
• University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business 

Each year, the Smith School’s MBA Finance Association presents the Mergers and Acquisitions Competition as its premier fall event. Targeting the nation’s top MBA programs, the event’s previous champions have represented UMD-Smith (2013), Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business (2012), the UVA’s Darden school (2011), the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza School of Business (2010), New York University’s Stern School of Business (2009), the University of Chicago Booth School of Business (2008) and Columbia Business School (2007).