In the Merger Mix: GAAP and Tax Strategies for Seamless Integration

Date: Tuesday, December 10, 2024
Time: 12:00 PM ET / 11:00 AM CT / 10:00 AM MT / 09:00 AM PT [Prevailing Time]
Presenters: Rodney Graham, Senior Vice President & CFO, Keystone Cooperative, Jim Halvorsen, CPA, Principal, CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP (CLA), Rebecca Thoune, CPA, Signing Director, CliftonLarsonAllen LLP (CLA)
Moderator: Wayne Sine, Education Director, National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives
Learning Objectives:
• Understand why cooperatives merge and what are the steps in the merger process including what should be considered at each step.
• Discuss why due diligence is important and the considerations around it.
• Understand the book and tax considerations in a merger
Field of Study: Taxes
Program Level: Basic
CPE Credit: 1 Credit Hour
Delivery Method: Group Internet-based
Prerequisite(s): No advanced preparation or prerequisites are required for this course.

Course Description

Explore GAAP and tax considerations in the context of mergers and acquisitions; including accounting and tax strategies that foster seamless integration, ensure compliance, optimize financial reporting, and maximize the benefits of the combined entities. Patronage considerations pre and post-merger will also be discussed. 

Presenter and Moderator Bios

Presenter: Rodney Graham, Senior Vice President & CFO, Keystone Cooperative

Rodney Graham, CFO & Senior VP, Accounting, IT & Credit.  With previous experience as a Controller, CFO and CEO in agriculture and logistics, Rodney is currently the Chief Financial Officer and Senior VP of Accounting, IT & Credit at Keystone Cooperative. He holds a bachelor's degree from Franklin College and an MBA from Ashland University. Rodney has also taught as adjunct faculty in the business schools of Butler University and University of Indianapolis. 

Presenter: Jim Halvorsen, CPA, Principal, CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP (CLA)

A graduate of the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire, Jim has more than twenty-three years of experience in public accounting. He specializes in providing auditing, accounting, and consulting services for cooperatives. Jim has extensive experience working with electric coops and agribusiness organizations.  Jim is a member of the firm-wide agribusiness and cooperative (ABC) group leadership team and is involved in providing direction and education for the ABC group to ensure clients receive the quality services they expect and deserve Jim has worked directly with clients to improve their internal accounting functions, controls, and financial statement reporting processes.  He has been involved with assisting management and the board of directors in improving their evaluation and review of month-to-month financial statements.  Jim has assisted grain elevators in understanding the impact on their margins related to price fluctuations and basis movement.  His involvement in various local and national organizations allows him to be a resource for the clients he serves.

Presenter: Rebecca Thoune, CPA, Signing Director, CliftonLarsonAllen LLP (CLA)

Rebecca Thoune has an extensive background providing tax planning and compliance for privately held companies, serving primarily cooperatives and the agribusiness industry. She works with clients on federal and state strategic tax planning, equity planning and management, maximizing cooperative and patron benefits, business structure consulting, and provides representation before the IRS and other state taxing authorities. Rebecca has 23+ years of tax experience in public accounting and has held various tax leadership roles throughout her career. Rebecca has spoken to various local and national organizations on technical tax topics such as the principles of cooperative taxation, tax planning and reform, equity management, COVID relief including PPP loans & forgiveness, and various state tax matters. Rebecca serves as the cooperative national tax director for CliftonLarsonAllen LLP. 

Moderator: Wayne Sine, Education Director, National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives

After retiring as Tax Director for Southern States Cooperative, Wayne Sine was asked to serve as Education Director for NSAC. He has been a long-time and active member of NSAC, having served as past President of the Atlantic Chapter and past Chair of the Tax Committee. In addition to his work with NSAC, Wayne has served on the Legal, Tax, and Accounting (LTA) Committee of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, Chaired the Tax Committees for both the Virginia Chamber of Commerce and the Virginia Manufacturers Association, served on the Tax Policy Committee of the Virginia Society of CPAs, and served as past Region Vice President for the Tax Executives Institute.

Cost
Free for NSAC Members / $56.00 for Non-Members

  Online Registration

Delivery System

  • All programs are delivered using the Zoom platform.
  • Confirmations will include log-in instructions.
  • Participants are able to participate using any device with an Internet connect (if the device does not have speakers, the participant can also dial-in) or they can participate with audio only by dialing in.
  • All registrants will receive a link to the CLN’s recording by email within 48 business hours of event’s conclusion.
  • There will be assistance available to help with technical and connectivity issues up to 10 minutes prior to the start of the presentation.

Registration

All registration is done on-line and each guest must provide their name and email address to participate. All NSAC members may register for free. Non-members may register for a nominal fee.

Refund Policy

NSAC will not issue refunds for CLNs. If a registrant is unable to participate in the CLN and provides notification to info@nsacoop.org 48 hours prior to the session, a credit will be provided for a future CLN. Alert the NSAC staff member monitoring the CLN if technical difficulties are encountered and technical support will be provided to eliminate problems with future CLNs.

Additional Information

Live participation is required for CPE credit and polling questions must be answered to document your active participation. All registrants will receive an email following the session with links to the slides and/or handouts, and a link to the CLN recording (unless otherwise stated). If you are unable to participate in the live session, you can still watch the recorded session, but you will not be eligible for CPE credits. Those eligible for credits will receive their certificate by email with 7 business days.

For more information regarding NSAC CLNs or administrative policies such as complaint and refund, contact the NSAC Headquarters, 7946 Clyo Road, Suite A, Centerville, OH 45459, 937-222-6707, or info@nsacoop.org.

What is NSAC's Cooperative Learning Network?
The NSAC Cooperative Learning Network is a live, interactive webinar, and you can attend from any location with internet and/or telephone access. NSAC members can attend an unlimited number of CLNs at no charge!

Each Cooperative Learning Network will have one or more speakers who are recognized experts on the topic. CLNs typically include a Q&A session where participants can ask questions live or by chat. No advance preparation or prerequisites are required, unless otherwise stated in the course information. Attendees are able to download copies of the slides and/or handouts and are provided a link to view the recording (unless the description states the session will not be recorded). These tools help continue your learning experience after the session.

CPE Credits
The National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives (NSAC) is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor (#103068) of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be addressed to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org.

Delivery Method: Group-Internet Based.

Why NSAC Cooperative Learning Networks?

Fast.
No wasted time. Get right to the heart of the matter in a course designed to easily fit into your busy schedule.

Convenient.
No travel. No time out of the office. Listen and follow along from the comfort and convenience of your desk, device or conference room.

Easy.
A device with an Internet connection is all you need. If your device does not have sound capabilities, the ability to dial in from a telephone is available.

Ideal for multiple attendees.
Use a speakerphone and projector/monitor and invite as many people as you want to participate - at no extra cost to you.

Affordable.
NSAC Cooperative Learning Networks are free for members and available to non members at a fraction of the cost of travel and attendance fees for other high-priced conferences or seminars.