Cherry Bekaert Expands Talent in Transaction Advisory Services Practice

In response to the growing demand for its transaction advisory and due diligence services, nationally recognized public accounting firm Cherry Bekaert (“the Firm”), is pleased to announce the additions of Tim J. Koch, Michael Coppa and Brian T. Dermott. Based in the Firm’s Charlotte office, Tim will serve as a Partner, Michael as a Senior Manager and Brian as a Manager within the expanding Transaction Advisory Services practice.

Cherry Bekaert’s Transaction Advisory Services practice consists of experienced financial and tax transaction professionals who specialize in middle market mergers and acquisitions. Team members have the unique ability to concentrate on the early identification of critical issues, understand key risk factors, and maximize transaction values and opportunities.

“Through the dedication from the Firm’s Transaction Advisory Services professionals, we’ve worked on more than 100 domestic and cross-border due diligence assignments in the past 24 months,” says Scott M. Moss, Managing Partner of Cherry Bekaert’s Advisory Services. “The additions of Tim, Michael and Brian position us to expand our transaction support capabilities, as well as meet our clients’ needs in the areas of post-merger integration, business diagnostics, valuation services, tax structuring and restructuring.”

With over 30 years of experience, Tim assists corporate and private equity groups in all aspects of buy-side and sell-side due diligence. He has significant expertise with clients in the manufacturing, distribution, business services, technology and healthcare industries. Tim will offer clients guidance regarding financial, accounting and tax due diligence projects, focusing on quality of earnings (EBITDA) and quality of net assets, working capital, and key deal risks and opportunities. He is also recognized as a technical resource in matters involving accounting for business combinations.

Before joining the Firm, Tim was the transaction services leader for one of the country’s 20 largest accounting firms. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (“AICPA”), the North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants (“NCACPA”) and the Association for Corporate Growth.

Guiding clients and leading organizations for over 17 years, Michael’s experience ranges from combat military leadership, and profit and loss management, to investment banking, consulting and principal investment. He assists clients with numerous strategic, financial and operations projects with an emphasis on developing corporate, marketing and operational strategy. Michael also handles tactical projects, including improving productivity, enhancing the customer experience and understanding profitability-by-product.

While on active duty in the Army, Michael led teams from 15 to over 125 personnel, was deployed to Albania, Afghanistan and Iraq, and received two Bronze Star Medals. Later, he earned a Master of Business Administration at Harvard Business School, and executed middle market mergers and acquisition transactions, non-investment grade debt transactions and sourced small market transactions at various companies. Prior to joining Cherry Bekaert, Michael improved a Fortune 500 company’s earnings 30 percent by increasing volume, adjusting product-offering focus and decreasing operating expenses.

Brian assists clients in all aspects of due diligence such as quality of earnings and assets, and working capital analyses. He serves clients in a variety of industries, including of manufacturing, distribution, healthcare, technology and business services. During his career, Brian has advised private equity firms and corporations in all aspects of merger and acquisition activity, which have had transaction values ranging from $20 million to over $200 million.

Before arriving at Cherry Bekaert, Brian received his first exposure to transaction advisory services at a top ten national accounting firm. During this time, he held various positions serving the middle market. Brian is also active in professional organizations like the AICPA, NCACPA, Association for Corporate Growth British American Business Council, and Advancing Productivity, Innovation, and Competitive Success.