On May 29, IT Market Dynamics - the research arm of IT in Canada - is teaming up with Veracap Corporate Finance to deliver a workshop designed to help Canadian VAR owners to maximize the value of their businesses.

The "Crystallizing Value in Canadian Channel Businesses" workshop is a full-day event focused on the key issues in understanding, building, and "crystallizing" the value of a channel business. Through the course of the day, we will cover the fundamentals of valuation, and market options for increasing business value; value creation strategies such as acquisition; and preparing for sale or succession, with analysis and advice on options ranging from sale to a strategic buyer (as was, for example, the case in the recent UNIS LUMIN/Softchoice deal) to arranging a management buy-out.

The workshop will be led by three instructors:

• Howard E. Johnson of Veracap, author of several text and management books on valuation and finance


• Derek van der Plaat of Vercap, who was a co-founder of Canadian e-music pioneer Puretracks


• Michael O'Neil, CEO of IT Market Dynamics and CCO of IT in Canada, Canada's most senior IT industry analyst

The workshop runs from 8:30-5:00 at the King Edward Hotel. Space is limited to 25 attendees. The workshop fee is $799, $499 for individuals who own at least 30% of their own VAR businesses. To register, please contact Stephen Symonds at stephen [dot] symonds [at] itincanada [dot] ca.

I hope to see you there!