Management Executive

James M. Copas

PO Box *** South Lyon, Michigan **178 acco1n@r.postjobfree.com Cell: 630-***-****

SENIOR EXECUTIVE: FINANCE, OPERATIONS GENERAL MANAGEMENT BUSINESS

STRATEGY, ORGANIC AND INORGANIC GROWTH EXPERT

Corporate Development●Organic and Inorganic Growth ExpertMergers & Acquisitions/Divestitures Identification, Strategy &

Execution ● Market Entry & Business ● DevelopmentAcquisition Integration ● Corporate Legal Structure ● Commercial/Financial

Contract Negotiation ● Risk Mitigation ● Margin/Profit Maximization ● Process Reengineering/Productivity Improvement ●

Organizational Turnarounds

Strategically oriented executive with entrepreneurial bent and multi-industry operational, business development, and executive management

experience, substantial organic and inorganic growth background, complemented by extensive legal background (JD plus LL.M.'s in Intellectual

Property Law and International Law–Business and Trade). Unique understanding of how to maximize profits in complex commercial environments

through sound P&L management, legal structures and commercial contracts that minimize risk and afford competitive advantage, as well as savvy

business development, M&A, and divestiture strategies. Solid track record achieving growth, productivity improvement, profitability, margin, and

customer satisfaction goals in diverse manufacturing, distribution, and service industry settings. Skilled in opening/developing new markets and

identifying, negotiating, executing, and integrating international acquisitions.

● Spearheaded business/legal consultancy that has guided and helped execute game-changing strategies spanning M&As,

investment, divestiture, market entry, and business development for start-ups, governments, and market leaders worldwide.

● Managed legal, risk management, and compliance functions for $25B contract manufacturer nearly single-handedly, and

created legal structure and processes for $1B equipment enclosures division assembled through acquisition.

● Developed strategy for and managed numerous complex multi-jurisdictional M&As, divestitures, acquisition integrations, and

commercial and legal transaction negotiations key to world-leading EMS company's growth to $34 billion USD.

● Grew $1MM company to $25MM in 2 years by expertly managing 6 P&L centers and expanding operations to 3 states.

● Turned around marginally profitable market to top global performer, and delivered astounding average annual growth (31%) and

margin improvements (43%) for world leader in highly engineered automotive components and systems.

● Managed P&L for 51 profit centers with 25,000 employees, CAGR for the units revenue of 94.73% and operating income

margin 36.31%, consequently actual operating income dollars grew at a CAGR of 165.44% (from $170,000 to $22,400,000

annually) during the difficult LBO private company era.

Special Ability to Build, Develop, and Motivate Cohesive, Top-Performing Teams:

Reengineered processes and transformed management-labor relations to yield office products division's (now OfficeMax)

most productive distribution center, while enabling union de-authorization and decertification.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

J. COPAS & ASSOCIATES LLC, Chicago; Tampa; Malmo, Sweden; and Shanghai, China.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Founded this business consulting firm with mission to identify/study industries to forecast 3-4 evolutionary steps ahead, engage with

selected companies to bring them up to speed, and assist them in executing strategies and complex legal/commercial transactions to get

there. Developed business plan around “virtual” operating model with extremely low overhead, and recruited globally dispersed team of

125 top-notch executives/managers, consultants, and partners, including CFO, VP of Business Strategy, and COO. Held complete growth,

P&L, and performance/service delivery related responsibilities.

Built business to $10MM with global client base ranging from start-ups to multi-billion dollar OEM's to national governments. Negotiated

hundreds of highly profitable complex cross-border transactions, turnkey agreements, and consortia arrangements across 6 continents, with

special focus in Intellectual Property cross-licensing and software technology transfer areas.

While confidentiality severely limits disclosure, these generalized examples are representative:

James M. Copas Page 2

● Contacted $30B global engineering firm and convinced them we could accomplish divestiture of business not aligned with their core

strengths. Leveraged legal education and commercial expertise to quickly identify buyer and negotiate/execute complex transaction, to

amazement of client management who had deemed it impossible and wrote:

“We found Jim to be transparent, reliable, diligent with a deep commercial and legal knowledge... Due to his negotiation skills

and persistency, he was able to push the sale forward and achieve the best possible result.”

● Assisted $10B+ gourmet food service giant to develop expansion strategy and negotiate strategic partnerships.

● Retained by consulate of Caribbean country to assist in development of economic development strategy to attract commercial

enterprises and integrate them into national sports scene.

● Conducted multiple market and economic research projects to further major Northern European retailer's goals for expansion and

penetration into Southern European markets, and helped them to get initiatives underway.

● Researched industries and identified companies ripe for investment for elite investment firm on behalf of their client, one of wealthiest

men in world; resulted in multiple investments in various countries.

FLEXTRONICS INTERNATIONAL LTD., San Jose, California.

Vice President, Business Strategy/M&A/Commercial Transactions

Brought in to address issues that had arisen in negotiating commercial/legal aspects and proper integration of acquisition for this global leader

in electronic manufacturing services (EMS). Once accomplished, assumed leadership role in Enclosures Division's pursuit of aggressive global

acquisition and business growth strategy.

As integral member of senior leadership team, played substantial role in driving growth to $34B by focusing on protecting corporate interests

and limiting liability in very competitive industry, favorably structuring/negotiating M&A's, investments, and financing, and ensuring optimal legal

structure from regulatory and tax perspective:

● Flew in to rescue and close stalled $300MM acquisition in Helsinki, Finland involving 6 manufacturing plants in Finland and 2 in China,

including all commercial, legal, and integration planning aspects. Served as Chairman of Board.

● Managed many other acquisitions from start-to-finish, including commercial/financial/legal negotiations, planning, and execution of

integration for transactions in Finland, China, Sweden, Norway, France, Spain, Argentina, Brazil, UK, Venezuela, Colombia, Canada,

Germany, Austria, Switzerland, U.S., and Italy. Served on Board for most of these.

● Directed divestitures in U.S., Spain, China, and Sweden; formulated consolidation strategies in Europe and Americas.

● Negotiated $2B+ commercial contracts with companies including Ericcson, Sony, Sony Ericcson, Microsoft, Motorola, and Alcatel.

Secured unprecedented liability protection while keeping clients content and company profitable.

● Built M&A function from ground up for $1B Enclosures Division, establishing all processes and policies, and integral in the formation of

the strategy group.

Borg Warner Corporation, Chicago, Illinois

Business Unit President – Borg Warner Automotive and Borg-Warner Security Corporation:

● Led turnaround area of the business to lead the Borg Warner world in profits and growth 3 straight years,

● Managing P&L for 51 profit centers with 25,000 employees,

● CAGR for the business units revenue of 94.73% and operating income margin 36.31%, consequently actual operating income dollars

grew at a CAGR of 165.44% during the difficult LBO private company era.

EDUCATION

THE JOHN MARSHALL SCHOOL OF LAW, Chicago, IL: LL.M. - Intellectual Property Law

STETSON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LAW, St. Petersburg, FL: LL.M. - International Law – Business & Trade

UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT MERCY SCHOOL OF LAW, Detroit, MI: Juris Doctor

MIAMI UNIVERSITY, Oxford, OH: Bachelor of Arts - Political Science; Associate of Arts - Criminal Justice

James M. Copas Page 3

Executive Profile

Versatile and strategically oriented general management executive with more than 25 years of success in wide variety of

manufacturing, service, consulting, and distribution industry settings maximizing profitability and delivering many billions of dollars of

organic and acquisition-fueled growth. Founded and built global business and legal consulting firm to $10 million/year with global

client base ranging from start-ups to multi-billion dollar OEM's to national governments. Negotiated hundreds of highly profitable

complex acquisitions, cross-border transactions, turn-key agreements, and consortia arrangements across 6 continents, with special

focus in Intellectual Property cross-licensing and software technology transfer areas. Provided M&A/business strategy, legal and

commercial DD processes as well as the legal structure that played key role in driving world-leading EMS manufacturer’s growth to

$34 billion while mitigating corporate liability and risk. Mr. Copas holds a Juris Doctorate degree and is an expert in international

business and trade, with LL.M.’s in Intellectual Property Law and International Law–Business and Trade.

James M. Copas Page 4

Executive Bio

~ Developing Growth-Oriented, Profit-Driven Enterprises that Deliver Maximum Stakeholder Value ~

James Copas brings to the table a unique understanding of how to maximize profitability in complex global commercial

environments through expert P&L and balance sheet management techniques, along with the legal education and experience needed

to guide growth-driven merger and acquisition, client relationship, and contractual relationship strategies that mitigate corporate

liability and risk. He has consistently demonstrated over more than 25 years in a wide variety of manufacturing, service, consulting,

and distribution industry settings his ability to ensure profitability and prosperity for all shareholders and stakeholders in diverse

enterprises, delivering many billions of dollars of organic and acquisition-fueled growth.

Mr. Copas managed his global business consulting firm he founded in 2004, J. Copas & Associates, LLC. Partnering with

a colleague who is also an expert in mergers and acquisitions, he has built the firm on a “virtual” operating model to extend its reach

and operations around the globe, serving a clientele ranging from startups to multi-billion dollar OEM’s to national governments. This

$10 million/year geographically dispersed enterprise with 125 associates and partners has provided business/market research and

strategic advice, and negotiated hundreds of highly profitable and complex cross-border transactions, turnkey agreements, and

consortia arrangements for corporations across six continents. This work has heavily leveraged Mr. Copas’ considerable expertise in

mergers and acquisitions, legal due diligence, contract negotiations and corporate finance, as well as his knowledge of Intellectual

Property Law and International Business & Trade Law.

Prior to founding and serving as CEO for J. Copas & Associates, Mr. Copas served as Vice President for Business

Strategy and M&A’s for Flextronics International’s Enclosures Division, and as Corporate Vice President and Corporate Counsel at

the Flextronics corporate level. Contributions here include executing a stalled $300 million acquisition involving six manufacturing

plants in Finland and two in China, for which he ultimately served as Chairman of the Board. He then managed a whirlwind of

additional acquisitions including all commercial, legal, and integration planning aspects for transactions in 17 countries throughout

Europe, South America, Asia, and North America, ultimately growing the business to $34 billion. He also directed divestitures in four

countries, formulated consolidation strategies in Europe and the Americas, and negotiated virtually every major deal made during his

tenure including many $2 billion+ contracts and partnerships with companies such as Ericcson, Sony, Microsoft, and Motorola.

Mr. Copas holds multiple degrees, including an LL.M. in Intellectual Property Law from The John Marshall School of Law,

Chicago, Illinois, an LL.M. in International Law Business and Trade from Stetson University College of Law, St. Petersburg, Florida,

a Juris Doctor from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, Detroit, Michigan, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political

Science/Groverment and Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.

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