Mark R. Fournier is a Director in the Valuation & Financial Opinions Group. He has extensive experience providing fairness and solvency opinions for corporate acquisitions and divestitures; going-private transactions; leveraged buy-out transactions; leverage recapitalizations; and related party transfers. He also has extensive experience with Employee Stock Ownership Plan including ESOP security formation; transaction analysis; determination of transaction fairness and adequate consideration; and annual valuation updates. In addition to his valuation and litigation advisory experience, Mr. Fournier also has significant investment banking experience. Mr. Fournier has been responsible for the execution of investment banking transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and the private placement of senior debt, subordinated debt, and equity securities. Mr. Fournier has served numerous industries including automotive, banks and thrifts, broadcasting, computer software, consumer products, e-commerce, e-health, graphics and printing, insurance, manufacturing, publishing, retailing, stamping, telecommunications, and wholesale distribution. Mr. Fournier has lectured and presented at numerous professional conferences and seminars on a variety of topics, including valuations of privately held companies, valuation of derivative securities, merger and acquisitions, and other related topics. He has also authored several articles related to the valuation of privately held companies and derivate securities. In addition, Mr. Fournier has testified as an expert witness at trial on corporate acquisition issues. Mr. Fournier earned a BA in Finance from Michigan State University. Mr. Fournier has also earned the right to use the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. In addition, he is a candidate member of the American Society of Appraisers. Mr. Fournier is a member of the CFA Institute, the ESOP Association, and the Investment Analysts Society of Detroit, Inc. Mr. Fournier is also a member of the Advisory Committee of the Michigan Chapter of the ESOP Association.