MANAGEMENT TEAM

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Wine Mergers, LLC is lead by a Principal and a team of professional advisors.

Wine Mergers, LLC offers the wine business seller or buyer a level of professionalism not typically available in the industry.  Our team of world-wide professionals brings decades of experience to each transaction.  We back that experience with the resources of a strong network of private equity groups (PEGs) and Corporate/Stretegic Buyers (CSBs) that are active in our industry sector; state-of-the-art internet and intranet resources; extensive in-house valuation databases and links; a strong wine industry network; and, much more.  Our professional team is here to serve you.

Angelo Pera, Principal, Managing Director

Angelo is one of the founders of Wine Mergers, LLC and is recognized for his extensive business background and M&A experience.  Angelo has 20+ years of experience in senior level operational management, with CEO, President and board positions at top firms in the United States. Angelo has initiated dozens of buy-side and sell-side Acquisitions, Mergers and Divestitures for Private Equity Groups and privately held investment funds. He has developed a long list of industry “insider” connections and relationships, valuable to any transaction. His strong wine industry experience enables him to advise company owners of all sizes, regarding M&A activity.

Angelo developed his significant wine industry operational experience developed from 16 years of employment in the wine industry.  Angelo has been involved at a senior level in large scale (300,000 case per year) wine operations and startup operations.  He has developed international distribution channels and launched new brands to the market.  Angelo has extremely valuable investment analysis experience and has performed valuations for dozens of wine industry firms. His focus is in mid-market ($5 - $100 Million) wine industry Merger & Acquisition transactions with Private Equity backed and Corporate buyers in the wine & spirits industry

Angelo has a Master of Business Administration in Management from Golden Gate University and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of San Diego. He has served on numerous corporate and civic boards.

 

 

TEAM of Corporate Finance Professionals:

 

 

How we work with Other Professional Advisors:

Wine Mergers, LLC works with and supports our clients’ trusted advisors. 

  • Accountants
    We advise clients on building value in anticipation of an equity transaction up to five years in the future. Our prescription often includes action items that require additional professional services and management accounting by clients' accountants. The ongoing process allows accountants to bring us in from time to time to review strategy, update the merger-and-acquisition landscape and advise on next steps. This often creates a need for ongoing services and consulting by clients' accountants.
  • Attorneys
    Wine Mergers, LLC helps attorneys protect their clients from selling their businesses below true market value by providing the packaging and marketing to attract multiple buyers. We do this in a confidential, competitive environment. If introduced into the process early on, we can identify the legal preparations needed to facilitate a smooth transition. These are services that are not typically provided on a day-to-day basis. Working with clients' attorneys, we can help assure that transactions don't fall apart during due diligence. Environmental issues, for example, can quickly scuttle a deal if not uncovered prior to due diligence. Additionally, in working with clients' attorneys, we can help assure that all intellectual properties, trademarks and trade secrets are documented, thus increasing client companies' valuations.
  • Financial and Investment Advisors
    In our experience, many clients of financial and investment advisors are business owners. As such, the value of their companies is likely to be an unacceptable concentration of clients' investment portfolios. Wine Mergers, LLC can help diversify portfolios by selling all or part of their companies. In selling part or all of a company we, in effect, help get more assets under professional management where they are more likely to grow. Likewise, business owners may feel a desire to take some money off the table and reduce their investment risk by selling part or all of their companies. In managing transactions, Wine Mergers, LLC often identifies insurance products such as warranties and representations, COLLARs for stabilizing public stock payments and other vehicles needed for clients' benefit. This can create additional opportunities for advisors offering these products. We work closely with financial advisors and review deal structures to make sure they are in line with existing financial plans and to assure a smooth hand-off of transaction proceeds.
  • Lenders
    Wine Mergers, LLC can become a source for additional capital for lenders' clients. We are eminently capable of identifying and securing capital that is greater than balance sheet strength might warrant. We can recapitalize companies through strategic investor opportunities in order to pursue timely opportunities for growth. Our excellent relationships with a variety of investment funds seeking out privately held business provides opportunities for those companies. This is one way we can provide sources of additional capital.