Thomas Walker, partner with Virchow Krause Capital LLC
Name: Thomas F. Walker, Jr., CPA, JD
Title: Partner
Company: Virchow Krause Capital, LLC
City of Residence: Pewaukee
Family: Wife Alison, and three children (Mackenzie 10, Trey 7, and Sean 5).
How does the market look to you? "The lower middle market has been somewhat immune to credit crunch, but all of that has changed in the last 60 days. However, fundamentally strong companies (sustainable earnings and cash flows) remain viable acquisition targets for strategic buyers and private equity firms willing to put more equity into a transaction."
What are you working on now? "Several sell-side and diligence projects in various industries, with transaction values between $15 million and $100 million."
What was the best deal you’ve been involved in? "Probably the recent sale of World Class Wire & Cable to Anixter, Inc. A very dear friend built a wire and cable business from scratch and, through his hard work and effort, he ultimately sold the company to the perfect buyer who could take the business to the next level. It was a pleasure to have served as his legal counsel (in prior years) and ultimately his investment banker, witnessing (first hand) his achievement of his dreams and goals."
What was the funniest or most interesting moment of your career? "Most interesting: Coming full circle professionally after having started as a public accountant in Milwaukee in 1989, practicing law and eventually becoming a partner at a large, Milwaukee-based law firm, to now managing the Milwaukee M&A practice for Virchow Krause, a large regional accounting firm with a private investment bank subsidiary."
