Day 2 Thursday, February 5, 2009
8:00 – 8:30 a.m.
Continental Breakfast
8:30 – 9:15 a.m.
Buying and Selling a Propane Business: Part 1
Gary Papay, President, CK Business Consultants, Inc.
Purchasing or selling a propane business, like any major asset, can lead to financial reward or ruin. The outcome depends on how informed you are going into the process. In this introduction to propane business transactions, delve into the issues to consider when buying or selling, including:
- Exit strategies.
- Why businesses are sold.
- The importance of timing.
- Stages of planning.
- The business owner's dilemma.
9:15 – 9:45 a.m.
Class Exercise/Discussion 1
Here’s your chance to “practice” what you’ve learned. In this interactive session, Gary guides you in an exercise applying the principles of the previous session to your own business scenarios.
9:45 – 10:00 a.m.
Refreshment Break
10:00 – 10:45 a.m.
Buying and Selling a Propane Business: Part 2 - Tips for Valuing a Business
Gary Papay, President, CK Business Consultants, Inc.
Knowing how to value your business or a business you want to buy is a science, and it’s key to maximizing profitability. Find out which value indicators will make or break a transaction – so you can make a wise business decision. Whether you’ve never bought or sold a propane business before, or whether you’re a seasoned veteran, you’ll come away with tangible tips to become a savvy propane retailer. Get a deeper understanding of valuation issues like:
- Rules of thumb.
- Financial records.
- Key business value drivers and potential to buyers.
- What to consider when valuing a business.
- 3 main factors affecting value. Tax-structuring strategies.
- Tax-structuring strategies.
10:45 – 11:15 a.m.
Case Studies Discussion
Take a closer look at valuation concepts as Gary explains how these principles have been applied to other propane retailers.
11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Buying and Selling a Propane Business: Part 3
Gary Papay, President, CK Business Consultants, Inc.
Internally preparing for acquisitions and divestitures is only half the battle – now you must consider the other people and influences involved. In Part 3 of Gary’s class, you’ll get a comprehensive understanding of what you need to know to make a wise sale or acquisition, and how to ensure the new operations start off on the right foot. This session covers:
- Managing the M&A process.
- Difficulties sellers encounter.
- Selling documents.
- Buyer categories.
- Top concerns of buyers.
- Financing the deal.
- Components of an offer to purchase and deal structures.
- The due diligence process.
- Closing the sale.
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Networking Luncheon
1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Exposing the Energy Markets: Overview and Outlook for Energy and Propane Prices
Ashmead Pringle, President, GSC Energy Matt Ward, Trader and Analyst, GSC Energy
After a year that’s seen record oil prices and dizzying economic turmoil, what can we expect for 2009? In this highly valuable session, GSC Energy’s Ashmead Pringle and Matt Ward will expose crude oil and natural gas price drivers and reveal their forecasts for where markets for crude and its derivatives will move in the coming months.
2:30 – 2:45 p.m.
Refreshment Break
2:45 – 4:00 p.m.
Introduction to the Fundamentals of Propane Hedging
Ashmead Pringle, President, GSC Energy and Matt Ward, Trader and Analyst, GSC Energy
Purchasing, marketing and hedging propane requires familiarity with the numerous supply options and hedging instruments available to minimize vulnerability in today’s marketplace. In this session, learn how to choose the proper tools for various hedging scenarios, and the pricing mechanisms you need to access in order make informed decisions. You’ll walk away with:
- A solid grasp of the physical and futures markets.
- Strategies for identifying risk.
- Knowledge of the tools used in a sound propane procurement and hedging program.
4:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Test Your Knowledge
How well did these fundamental concepts sink in? Test how much you’ve learned with some fill-in-the-blank exercises aimed at solidifying your understanding of risk management tools.
4:30 p.m.
Adjourn for Day
Special FREE Bonus for Attending: As a bonus for attending this educational series, you receive:
OPIS Propane contract prices FREE for any city for 2 weeks. Find out supplier-by-supplier propane prices including the OPIS high, low and average for the city of your choice.
Attend and...
Discover the best hedging tools to make informed, profitable purchasing decisions.
Learn savvy marketing tips to capture more sales.
Get in-depth, critical strategies for buying and selling a propane business.
Tackle complex regulatory requirements by learning industry-accepted methods and procedures for achieving compliance cost effectively.