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213 622 0066 | CONTACT US
 * ABOUT US
 * INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
 * PORTFOLIO
 * TEAM


LEARN FROM THE MISTAKES OF OTHERS. YOU CAN’T LIVE LONG ENOUGH TO MAKE THEM ALL
YOURSELF.




— ELEANOR ROOSEVELT


IT TAKES MANY GOOD DEEDS TO BUILD A GOOD REPUTATION, AND ONLY ONE BAD ONE TO
LOSE IT.




— BENJAMIN FRANKLIN


ACTION SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS BUT NOT NEARLY AS OFTEN.




— MARK TWAIN


LEARN FROM THE MISTAKES OF OTHERS. YOU CAN’T LIVE LONG ENOUGH TO MAKE THEM ALL
YOURSELF.




— ELEANOR ROOSEVELT


IT TAKES MANY GOOD DEEDS TO BUILD A GOOD REPUTATION, AND ONLY ONE BAD ONE TO
LOSE IT.




— BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

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ABOUT US



M2O WAS FORMED AS A FAMILY INVESTMENT OFFICE IN 1992 WITH THE ACQUISITION OF THE
NATIONAL LINES BUREAU, A SHIP MOORING COMPANY OPERATING IN THE COMBINED PORTS OF
LOS ANGELES AND LONG BEACH.

OVER THE FOLLOWING DECADES, M2O’S INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES EXTENDED INTO SEARCH
FUNDS, VENTURE CAPITAL, PRIVATE EQUITY, AND BEYOND. THIS STRATEGY IS REFLECTED
IN A CURRENT PORTFOLIO OF OVER 60 PRIVATE COMPANIES OPERATING IN DIVERSE
INDUSTRIES AROUND THE WORLD. FROM MOBILE HANDSET INSURANCE TO VACCINE MANAGEMENT
SYSTEMS, THE FIRM INVESTS PRIMARILY IN ASSET LIGHT, HIGH-GROWTH BUSINESS.


HISTORY

M2O took a hands-on approach to its first investment, directly managing the
National Lines Bureau for five years. During that period, the company’s
operations were improved and streamlined, generating a 100% return on invested
capital annually by the time of its sale in 1997.

M2O invested in its first search fund in 1992, the same year it was founded. At
the time, a search fund was a novel and ambitious concept hatched by a small
group of business school professors, students, and private investors. Over time,
search funds became the foundation of M2O’s investment activities. We have
invested in over 130 search funds around the world and now evaluate dozens of
new search fund investments annually.

Our experiences with National Lines Bureau and search funds led to additional
investments in small, high-growth private companies. Unlike traditional private
equity or venture capital groups, our investment horizon is often 10 years or
more. Consequently, we develop lasting relationships with the companies—and
managers—in which we invest.




INVESTMENT CRITERIA

We invest solely from our own balance sheet. We have no limited partners and
minimal demands on our capital, outside of investing. As a result, the firm
looks for long-term investment opportunities.

M2O has the flexibility to invest in private companies through a range of
structures, whether backing search fund entrepreneurs, co-investing with other
investment managers, or leading direct investments.

M2O appreciates that great companies are run by talented, hard-working managers.
The first step in diligence is better understanding the motivation and
capability of the management team and/or sponsor.

We seek investments in companies with recurring revenues, predictable cash
flows, and sustainable competitive positions in growing industries. We invest
primarily in service-based businesses, especially those with modest capital
intensity.

While M2O has the flexibility to invest in a broad range of situations, most
companies have $5 to $50 million of revenue and $1 to $15 million of EBITDA when
M2O first invests.


PARTNERING WITH US

With over 25 years of experience, M2O quickly recognizes high-potential
investments. We pride ourselves on accelerated due diligence of investment
opportunities. We aim to respond to private placement memoranda quickly and,
under most circumstances, will make a decision within one week. When the firm
commits to a deal, funds are available immediately.

Experienced across the lifecycle of businesses, M2O can be a primary source of
capital as companies launch, grow, and mature. Consistent with our investment
horizon, we view our engagement with management through the lens of a long-term
relationship. Indeed, M2O builds lasting partnerships with executives that span
multiple companies and industries.

Since M2O partners with hardworking, motivated managers, we let the executive
determine the best means of engagement. M2O strives to be responsive, not
over-bearing.


INVESTMENT STRATEGIES



M2O’S INVESTMENT STRATEGIES SPAN SEARCH FUNDS, VENTURE CAPITAL, PRIVATE EQUITY,
AND SPECIAL SITUATIONS. WHILE INVESTMENT STRUCTURES VARY, OUR STRATEGIES SHARE A
COMMON APPROACH TO ALIGNING OUR CAPITAL FOR THE LONG-TERM WITH GREAT BUSINESSES
AND TALENTED MANAGEMENT TEAMS.


SEARCH

M2O believes in the traditional approach to search fund investing, including a
diverse investor group where the entrepreneur has the opportunity to become the
single largest shareholder. We believe entrepreneurs benefit from distilling the
perspectives of many voices, thus making more informed decisions.

M2O partners with entrepreneurs interested in building long-term, sustainable
value. We back individuals and teams that demonstrate the grit, determination
and hard work required to be successful. We pitch in to help at whatever stage
in the search cycle an entrepreneur requires.

Sample Investments


SEARCH



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Anaqua

Asurion

Briscoe Protective

Chronus

Datacor

DCI

IRESA

List Engage

Little Sprouts

NFCDD

ORIGO

Paragon Legal

Raptor

ServiceSource

Stealth Monitoring

Veri-Tax


VENTURE

M2O maintains a concentrated portfolio of startup investments. The firm’s
approach to venture investing differs from industry norms in that M2O
prioritizes sustainable growth and capital efficiency over maximizing short-term
growth (often at a high cost). We find our approach enables us to cultivate
ideas from inception to commercial success (or failure, but we prefer the
former).

Sample Investments


VENTURE



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Camio

GroundWork

Hover

Recurve

Sunrun

Therapydia

TruMed

Xiltrix




PRIVATE EQUITY

M2O partners with independent sponsors and other long-term investors to acquire
and manage privately held companies. We prefer investments in companies with
sustainable competitive advantages and long-term growth potential that we can
hold indefinitely. We also seek to build long-term relationships with the
sponsors and managers we back.

Sample Investments


PRIVATE EQUITY



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Frazil

Lineage

Prime AE Group

The Predictive Index


SPECIAL SITUATIONS

M2O’s ability to make quick decisions allows us to act on time-sensitive
opportunities. Moreover, with a strong balance sheet and flexible approach, we
can tailor investments to the needs of the business. Whether building a 450-bed
student housing complex in Utah or reorganizing a holding company with diverse
lines of business, M2O works with managers to understand the value-maximizing
strategy.

Sample Investments


SPECIAL SITUATIONS



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Powder Mountain

RCM Technologies

The Village

Meadowbrook




PORTFOLIO





SEARCH

SAMPLE INVESTMENTS



Anaqua

Asurion

Briscoe Protective

Chronus

Datacor

DCI

IRESA

List Engage

Little Sprouts

NFCDD

ORIGO

Paragon Legal

Raptor

ServiceSource

Stealth Monitoring

Veri-Tax




VENTURE

SAMPLE INVESTMENTS



Camio

GroundWork

Hover

Recurve

Sunrun

Therapydia

TruMed

Xiltrix




PRIVATE EQUITY

SAMPLE INVESTMENTS



Frazil

Lineage

Prime AE Group

The Predictive Index




SPECIAL SITUATIONS

SAMPLE INVESTMENTS



Powder Mountain

RCM Technologies

The Village

Meadowbrook


TEAM





 * MICHAEL F. O'CONNELL
   
   MANAGING PARTNER


 * M-K O'CONNELL
   
   PARTNER


 * SHAUN RADER
   
   PARTNER


 * NICHOLAS QIU
   
   PRINCIPAL


 * SARAH ZEPKOWSKI
   
   CONTROLLER


 * REBECCA KRAUSE
   
   EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO PRESIDENT OF M2O


MICHAEL F. O'CONNELL


MICHAEL F. O'CONNELL

MANAGING PARTNER

Michael F. O’Connell is Managing Partner and President of M2O. He oversees the
assessment of investment opportunities and reviews the ongoing performance of
portfolio companies. For most of his career, Michael was President and Managing
Director of Anhalt, O’Connell & Steffanci Inc., a Los Angeles-based investment
management firm with almost $1 billion under management.

In 1992, Michael purchased the National Lines Bureau, a ship mooring company
operating at the Los Angeles and Long Beach harbors, the largest commercial port
in America. This direct investment prompted many more and Michael soon shifted
his focus from investment management to private equity and venture capital.
Today, he leads M2O with a portfolio of more than 60 companies and sits on the
boards of Veri-Tax, TruMed and Xiltrix.

Michael holds a B.A., with high honors, from Harvard College and an MBA from
Harvard Business School.


M-K O'CONNELL


M-K O'CONNELL

PARTNER

Michael-Kevin (M-K) O’Connell joined M2O in 2009. He is responsible for sourcing
and reviewing new investment opportunities as well as monitoring the performance
of portfolio companies. M-K currently serves on the board of four search fund
companies (Apex, Origo Commodities Management, ListEngage, and Veri-Tax) and two
venture businesses (Camio and Recurve). M-K also promotes the traditional
partnership approach to search fund investing through his work on the board of
the Search Fund Alliance.

Prior to joining M2O, M-K was a Manager with L.E.K. Consulting. During his
tenure there, M-K led project teams across a diverse range of industries and
business issues. Before L.E.K., M-K helped develop an industry-leading CRM and
data management solution for commercial real estate as the Director of Research
for CB Richard Ellis in New England.

M-K received his B.S, magna cum laude, from Boston College and his MBA from The
Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania where he was the recipient of
the Thomas P. Gerrity Leadership Award.


SHAUN RADER


SHAUN RADER

PARTNER

Shaun Rader joined M2O in 2019. He sources and executes new investments and
collaborates with portfolio company management teams. Shaun serves on the boards
of three search fund companies (Helpside, P&S Machining, and Swoogo).

Prior to joining M2O, Shaun was a Managing Director at Sagard, an alternative
asset management division of Power Corporation of Canada. At Sagard, Shaun
screened, researched, and managed investments totaling $250 million of invested
capital across 12 companies, primarily in the business services sector. In
between stints at Sagard, Shaun served as a Partner in a related family office
where he led an investment in a national network of veterinary practices and
spent two years as CFO and board member of the company, now branded Lakefield
Veterinary. Shaun started his career at Bain & Company where he advised private
equity and corporate clients on investment decisions and growth strategy.

Shaun earned a B.A. with distinction from the University of Virginia and an MBA
from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania where he was a Palmer
Scholar.


NICHOLAS QIU


NICHOLAS QIU

PRINCIPAL

Nicholas (Nick) Qiu joined M2O in 2022. He works closely with search fund
entrepreneurs throughout their search, acquisition, and operating phases.

Prior to joining M2O, Nick was a consultant at Bain & Company where he advised
private equity and corporate clients on investment decisions, due diligence, and
growth strategy. Nick started his career as an Army officer.

Nick received a B.S. from the United States Military Academy at West Point and
an MBA from Harvard Business School.


SARAH ZEPKOWSKI


SARAH ZEPKOWSKI

CONTROLLER

Sarah Zepkowski serves as the Controller of M2O, Inc. and has been with the
company since 2012. In her current position, Sarah is responsible for overseeing
the accounting and financial operations of the firm. Her role includes the
management of accounting systems, budget and financial statement development,
internal and external reporting, as well as tax and regulatory compliance.

Prior to joining M2O, Inc., Sarah was the Communications Director of JNCIMC, a
full service marketing and media production company.

A graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles, Sarah holds a B.A. in
English Literature with honors and is a licensed C.P.A. in the state of
California.


REBECCA KRAUSE


REBECCA KRAUSE

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO PRESIDENT OF M2O

Rebecca Krause joined M2O in 2019. She is responsible for ensuring the
efficiency of daily operations, supporting the executive team in all
administrative matters, and assisting the company’s business development
efforts.

Rebecca brings over 10 years of managerial and administrative experience in the
financial services industry. She most recently served as Commercial Client
Officer at City National Bank where she supported a team of Senior Relationship
Managers with a large portfolio of commercial clients.

Additionally, Rebecca has served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteer
for children in LA County and is licensed to provide notarial services in the
State of California.



info@m2oinc.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

515 S. Figueroa St. Suite 650
Los Angeles, CA 90071

O: 213 622 0066
F: 213 613 0805

© M2O - All Rights Reserved
 * ABOUT US
 * INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
 * PORTFOLIO
 * TEAM