Here’s some very comforting news for current ACG National Capital members: the long-term future of the ACG National Capital chapter and the metro-DC business community are well assured. How do we know this? By the caliber of the presentations and presenters during the recently concluded ACG Cup 2011 competition. 

On Wednesday, February 16, four teams of students representing the best and the brightest of the current classes at local business schools competed for the 2011 ACG Cup, awarded by the National Capital chapter. The students were currently enrolled at American University, George Washington University, Georgetown University and the University of Maryland. 

Each school was asked to give a presentation to be selected as the investment bank advisor to the board of directors of a fictional privately owned government contracting company. The fictional company was said to be considering its options in response to an offer to sell for $400 Million. 

The presentations were very professional, well organized and addressed the various facts and issues of the case. They were all so convincing, that it was difficult for the judges to select a winner. 

After deliberation and feedback to the participating student teams, the three judges awarded the $1,500 prize money to the University of Maryland, Robert H. Smith School of Business. The team was comprised of Derek Criswell, Elan Rozmaryn, Nicolas Godfrey, and Quint Mansell. This marked the third time the University of Maryland has captured the title. 

This is the fourth year that the National Capital chapter has held its ACG Cup Competition. The ACG Cup is a case study competition designed to give students from leading MBA programs real world experience and invaluable insights into mergers and acquisitions, investment banking, financial advisory and private equity. Each case study provides students with a unique opportunity to present valuation, capital markets and M&A strategic advice to a panel of seasoned M&A professionals from within the National Capital region. 

The ACG Cup is an invaluable part of the associations focus towards improving the area’s business community and giving back to the region. If the teams we witnessed are any indication, the National Capital region’s business community is in very good hands both today and into the future.