Foster MBAs win corporate growth case competition

Four MBA students from the University of Washington Michael G. Foster School of Business won the international finals of the Associate for Corporate Growth (ACG) case competition, March 21 in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The event was designed to give MBAs valuable insights into mergers and acquisitions, investment banking, financial advisory and private equity. The Foster School team—Nick Casaril, Erick Rendon, Rhett Baldwin and Robert Belcher—presented the most compelling strategic advice on a realistic merger and acquisition case. In the simulation, the team advised a private equity group on whether a potential acquisition was a good value, and at what price, and how best to structure a deal that would be acceptable to both buyers and sellers.

Competition included Simon Fraser University, the University of British Columbia, Whitworth University and University of Calgary, with the Foster School clearly best in show. Said judge Luke Fouke, senior vice president of Seattle-based Net Lease Holdings: “The level of analysis and thought-provoking recommendations that the students presented really goes to show the excellence of the Foster School of Business’ curriculum.”

The victory earned the team the first International AGC Cup, a prize of $10,000 Canadian, and the proverbial much, much more.

“The entire competition was an enriching experience that provided great insight to some of the activities and challenges that actual practitioners of the craft face in the real world,” said Casaril. “Everything from analyzing and crafting the deal to the ‘bake-off’ at the end to sell the deal was incredibly engaging. I know I learned an incredible amount that will be immensely valuable as I embark on my future career.”