PubCoCEO™

We recently caught up with David Bukzin, CPA to learn more about the 2017 Marcum MicroCap Conference. Bukzin is the Partner-in-Charge of Marcum LLP’s SEC Services practice and Chair of the Marcum MicroCap Conference.

This year’s event is scheduled for June 15-16, 2017 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City.

The Marcum MicroCap Conference is one of the largest and most anticipated microcap events of the year. This is one event every microcap CEO and industry professional does not want to miss.

When and where is the event held? How did you decide on that location?

David Bukzin, CPA: “The event is held annually at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City, the world’s financial center.  The Grand Hyatt is centrally located on the East Side of midtown Manhattan and can accommodate all of the moving parts of our conference, which is attended by more than 2000 people from every segment of the microcap industry each year.  Our lineup includes company presentations, discussion panels, one-on-one meetings, exhibit areas, keynote luncheons/breakfasts, and a gala reception.  It is a full agenda for the two days of the conference.”

How would you best describe The Marcum MicroCap Conference?

Bukzin: “The Marcum MicroCap Conference is an investor conference where publicly traded companies get to network with the investment community.  The conference is presented by Marcum LLP, a top national accounting and advisory firm with offices in major business markets throughout the U.S., as well as Grand Cayman, China and Ireland. Since its launch in 2012, this event has become a nationally recognized forum for publicly traded companies with less than $500 million in market capitalization to network with fund managers and high net worth investors who focus on small cap equities. Attendees include senior management, finance and legal executives, venture and lower middle-market private equity investors, institutional investors, directors, investment bankers, buy- and sell-side analysts, and service providers to the microcap marketplace.”

Who hosts the event? Any interesting sponsors? 

Bukzin: “The Marcum MicroCap Conference is hosted by Marcum’s SEC Services group, the 7th largest SEC Audit practice in the U.S.

The conference’s sponsors are a cross-section of the microcap industry. Platinum category sponsorships for this year have already sold out and include Aegis Capital Corp., Maxim Group, Rodman & Renshaw, and ROTH Capital Partners, LLC. The complete sponsor list is available at www.marcummicrocap.com.”

Any panels or keynotes planned?

Bukzin: “The Marcum MicroCap Conference features nationally prominent keynote speakers each year.  Past speakers have included former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani; former Lehman Brothers CEO Richard Fuld, Jr.; former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich; and former Securities & Exchange Commission Chairman Harvey Pitt, among others.

There will be two keynote presentations this year. On June 15, the luncheon keynote will be delivered by husband-and-wife political pundits James Carville and Mary Matalin, whose topic will be “150 Days into the New Administration: What has Happened and What to Expect.”  On June 16, the breakfast keynoter will be economist Lawrence Kudlow, speaking on the topic of “Washington to Wall Street.”

There will be also be nine panel discussions:

•    Uplisting to an Exchange
What Every Company Needs to Know Before, During and After Listing
•    Best Practices in Corporate Governance, Legal and Accounting Matters
Key Issues and Hot Topics that Matter to Investors and Regulators
•    Up in Smoke?  How to Invest in the Cannabis Industry
Identifying Opportunities, Financial and Legal Hurdles, and the Outlook for the Cannabis Industry under the new Administration
•    Identifying Breakthrough Opportunities in Life Sciences
How to Evaluate Early Stage and Pre-Revenue Life Sciences Companies
•    The Current Environment for Capital-Raising
Funding Options and Structures Geared towards Microcap Companies
•    How Liquidity Impacts the Value of a Microcap Stock
How to Identify Companies that are Effectively Building an Active and Diverse Shareholder Base and Techniques to Achieve those Results
•    Regulation A+: Two Years After the Creation of the “The Mini IPO”
How this Significant Change in Capital-Raising has been Utilized by the Marketplace — What has Worked, Where It Needs to be Improved, and the Future Outook
•    Chinese Investment in the United States:  Venture, M&A, and EB-5 Capital
Priority Sectors for Chinese Investment, Considerations for Protecting Intellectual Property (IP), Tapping EB-5 Capital, Obtaining Premium Valuations, and the Economic Outlook for Outbound China Investment
•    Embracing Diversity: How to Make Diversity Part of Your Company’s DNA
How to Structure and Maintain a Diversity Program, Make the Business Opportunity Tangible, and Weed Out Unintentional Bias”

What is the Marcum MicroCap Conference’s history?

Bukzin: “We conceived the Marcum MicroCap Conference in 2012 because we recognized that smaller entrepreneurial public companies with less than $500 million dollars in market capitalization needed a venue in which they could tell their stories and a way to network with the investment community. Many of the investment banks had discontinued their own conferences during the recession, and we decided to fill that void. The first year we budgeted for 30-40 presenting companies and 300-400 attendees. What we actually had was 60 companies and 800 attendees.  The conference has just continued to grow from there, with almost 150 companies presenting last year and in excess of 2000 attendees from across the microcap space.  We are anticipating similar participation this year.”

How many attendees do you expect?

Bukzin: “The event is designed for publicly traded companies with less than $500 million in market capitalization to network with fund managers, high net worth investors, and buy- and sell-side analysts who focus on small cap equities. We anticipate having more than 2000 participants including senior management, finance and legal executives, venture and lower middle-market private equity investors, institutional investors, directors, investment bankers, buy- and sell-side analysts, and service providers to the microcap marketplace. The majority of the conference comprises fairly small groups, with company presentations and discussion panels generally attracting about 100 participants, but attendance can sometimes edge up to 200.  The one-on-one meetings between presenting companies and potential investors are intimate.  Only the keynote presentations and gala reception are large-scale events for the entire conference population.”

Who should attend and why?

Bukzin: “The Marcum MicroCap Conference includes a full agenda of company presentations, discussion panels, keynote speakers, and exhibits that address all aspects of the microcap marketplace.  Virtually any constituency with an interest in microcaps has the opportunity to learn something, make new contacts, or engage with the industry in a meaningful way at this event.”

What size and type of MicroCap public companies should attend? How do they qualify/present? 

Bukzin: “The Marcum MicroCap Conference is a forum for publicly traded companies with less than $500 million in market capitalization to network with fund managers and high net worth investors who focus on small cap equities. Presenting companies come from seven principal industry sectors, including Technology, Media & Internet; Software & Business Services; Life Sciences & Healthcare; Retail & Consumer Products; Energy & Natural Resources; Industrials; and Financial & Asset Management Services. Companies interested in presenting should complete the form on the conference website as the first step in the vetting process (www.marcummicrocap.com).”

How do potential attendees register? 

Bukzin: “To register, visit www.marcummicrocap.com.”

Is there a deadline to register? 

Bukzin: “The registration deadline is June 9.”

How much does it cost to attend?

Bukzin: “The conference is free for investors and analysts. There is a $695 fee for all non-sponsoring industry professionals and all non-registered attendees/walk-ins.

The Standard Presenting Company Package is $3,495. A limited number of Premium Presenting Company Packages are also available at $7,495.  Contact Robert Derbabian, Senior Director of Business Development, robert.derbabian@marcumllp.com or 212-485-5945.

For sponsorship information, contact Taline Chalian at taline.chalina@marcumllp.com.”

Anything else potential attendees should know?

Bukzin: “Marcum LLP is a registered Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) firm. Marcum’s Assurance Division provides the most up-to-date service and guidance on SEC accounting and reporting issues. Services include Financial Statement Audits in accordance with PCAOB standards; Tax Compliance and Advisory Services; Due Diligence; Agreed-Upon Procedures and Other Attest Work; Internal Audit Services; Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 Compliance Services and Software; Technical Accounting Assistance; and IPO Assistance. For more information, visit www.marcumllp.com.

Marcum LLP is one of the largest independent public accounting and advisory services firms in the nation, with offices in major business markets throughout the U.S., as well as Grand Cayman, China, and Ireland. Headquartered in New York City, Marcum provides a full spectrum of traditional tax, accounting and assurance services; advisory, valuation and litigation support; and an extensive range of specialty and niche industry practices. The Firm serves both privately held and publicly traded companies, as well as high net worth individuals, private equity funds and hedge funds, with a focus on middle-market companies and closely held family businesses.  Marcum is a member of the Marcum Group, an organization providing a comprehensive array of professional services. For more information, visit www.marcumllp.com.”