Boost for BPC The Wharton School announced a $1.65 million contribution from Ellen Hanson Perlman and Richard E. Perlman, W’68, for the Perlman Prize, which will be awarded through the annual Wharton Business Plan Competition managed by Wharton Entrepreneurship. The 2012-2013 Business Plan Competition culminates with the Venture Finals. The Perlman Prize will be awarded to the students whose business plan is judged at the Finals to have the greatest potential. It carries a total winnings purse of $45,000. In addition to sponsoring prize monies, the Perlmans’ contribution will also provide key operational support for the Competition.

Wharton Students Top the Field Twenty-three teams entered the 13th Annual Wharton MBA Buyout Case Competition. Only one team—the Wharton team—emerged as the winner. Team members included first-year MBA students Rick Aubrey, Eric Klein, Zack Peckham and Mark Turner. During the event on February 22, teams were tasked with analyzing Staples Inc. for a fictional private equity group. The students had five days to prepare for a 30-minute presentation. Sponsored by the Wharton MBA student Private Equity & Venture Capital Club, the competition is the largest MBA-level leveraged buyout case competition in the world.