ACG San Diego: Selling a Family-Owned Business - Getting Your Thoroughbred to the Finish Line

Shay Timms is President of Troxel Cycling & Fitness LLC (Troxel), the largest equestrian helmet and helmet accessory company in North America.  Founded in 1897, Troxel is a leader in safety engineering and design, with contributions ranging from home safety products, such as high chairs and safety gates, to children’s car seats, to cycling safety products.  Prior to the acquisition, Shay had been with Troxel since 2002, where she served as Corporate Counsel, VP of Sales and Marketing, President, and then CEO. Before joining Troxel, she was an attorney at Zevnik Horton Guibord McGovern Palmer & Fognani, specializing in business transactions and corporate law.

Mark Jones is a Managing Director of River Associates, where he oversees the firm’s acquisition origination process and manages the firm’s relationships with investment bankers, merger and acquisition intermediaries, and limited partner investors. River Associates has a 29-year, 91 transaction, 7 fund track record as a private equity partner for management teams in buyout, recapitalization, family succession, and corporate divestiture transactions.  The firm is currently investing its seventh fund, with $285 million in committed capital, and is focused on lower middle-market companies with operating income (EBITDA) in the $3 to $12-million range.

David Crean has over 25 years of life sciences, R&D and corporate development transactional experience in the pharmaceutical industry. As a Managing Director at Objective Capital, he leads the firm’s M&A, partnering and capital financing transactions with life science and healthcare clients. David serves on the Board of Directors for Histogen, Inc., Talapo Therapeutics, and California Life Sciences Association (CLSA); is a limited partner with Mesa Verde Venture Partners; is a member of BIOCOM and Corporate Directors Forum.  He was recognized for the 2018 Healthcare Hero, 2017 Thought Leader of the Year and 2017 Advisor of the Year Awards. David is also active in the non-profit sector, where he serves in leading Board roles for ACG San Diego (President-elect), Solutions for Change, Alzheimer’s Association and Altus Institute of San Diego.