An undergraduate at the University of Oklahoma, Evan Drake Hudgins has completed multiple internships in the field of finance. One of the concepts Evan Drake Hudgins learned was private equity (PE) acquisition pathways.
PE is often focused on exerting change in companies that enable greater efficiencies and profits to be realized. Deliverables expected by PE investors include clear pathways toward transformation that provide significant returns on capital. These investors also leverage existing management teams, while creating new synergies through new markets, joint ventures, and other partnerships.
Naturally, not every PE transaction meets these optimal risk-return parameters and there are, therefore, various alternative funding pathways available, such as debt and equity hybrid mezzanine financing. The relative risk of the transaction is reflected in aspects of the investment, such as the level of operational control taken on, valuation, and the financing vehicle in play.
The use of private equity as an M&A strategy is particularly concentrated in the technology sector, with approximately 43 percent of M&A financed through this form of capital. Also, of these M&A transactions, more than half are in the large equity arena with $50 million to $1 billion.
Studying finance at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Evan Drake Hudgins has participated in several internships at financial institutions. In addition to his academic pursuits, Evan Hudgins volunteers at Warriors for Freedom, whose goal is to rebuild ties between the community and veterans, current service members, and their families.
The organization provides services in many areas, such as health, transportation, and housing assistance. One major effort is the Silent War Foundation, which offers no-cost access to mental health experts in the field of suicide prevention. Similarly, the Real Warriors Campaign promotes recovery from brain injuries.
Another program, called VetsCars, works with automotive dealers to provide discounts and fair treatment for members of the military community. Serving another basic need, Heartline Oklahoma and the Homeless Alliance work to create affordable housing opportunities.
Other Warriors for Freedom initiatives strive to reduce recidivism, offer scholarships for families of deceased or wounded soldiers, and address addictions.
Persons wishing to donate to or volunteer for Warriors for Freedom should visit www.warriorsforfreedom.org/ .
Evan Drake Hudgins is a University of Oklahoma (OU) undergraduate who is pursuing a BBA in finance and maintains status as an OU Distinguished Scholar. Already possessing extensive experience in the financial sector, Evan Drake Hudgins has completed an internship with the Spirit of Texas Bank and undertook work that spanned areas such as real estate, commercial, and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loans.
This federal agency works actively with small and mid-sized businesses in providing forms of assistance such as counseling and contracts, while guaranteeing loans designed to help companies start up and thrive. Rather than making loans, the SBA engages with partners such as banks and economic development organizations in providing dependable loan guidelines. With this government-backed assurance in place, financial institutions are more willing to approve loans that they would otherwise likely have to turn down.
Following the Great Recession and a lack of ready credit for many businesses, the SBA, created by Congress in the early 1950s, has taken on a more prominent role in enhancing the availability of capital. Qualifying for an SBA-backed loan requires an extensive application process and meeting specific criteria, and it makes sense to consult with an experienced financial professional when considering this pathway to funding.
