M&A Academy at the University of Chicago

Exclusively for Corporate M&A Professionals

M&A Academy

JUNE 23 & 24, 2026 | UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO GLEACHER CENTER

$2,500 | $0 for Members Become an All Access Member

This curriculum-driven program provides structured guidance on engineering the deal process, from target sourcing through closing, to help corporate M&A teams build sound practices to deliver high-performing transactions.

Construct a strategic framework to evaluate acquisitions
Systematize diligence and ensure certainty of execution
Mitigate deal risks and liability exposure
Optimize transaction governance

TUESDAY, JUNE 23 | 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Section 1: M&A Strategy & Process Management

Strategy development with the business
Identifying and cultivating appropriate acquisition targets
Constructing indications of interest / letters of intent / setting the tone
Negotiation tactics and process / auction dynamics
Developing a clear and testable growth thesis
Defining roles and key milestones in the M&A process
Managing decision bias; setting walk away frameworks

TUESDAY, JUNE 23 | 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Section 2: M&A Valuation & Diligence

Valuation models and stress testing the business case
Earn-out formulations and contingent consideration mechanisms
Allocating diligence responsibility to advisors and internal teams
Diligence reports and risks of confirmation bias
Tactics to increase accuracy and validity of synergy estimates
Linking the deal thesis and value drivers to the diligence process
Conducting commercial, financial, operational, and organizational diligence

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24 | 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Section 3: M&A Governance & Closing

Finalizing the deal theses with diligence results and integration frameworks
Determining deal performance metrics; plans for post-closing reviews
Accounting principles and net working capital adjustments
Post-closing purchase price adjustments
Identifying common mistakes and pitfalls in synergy realization plans
Managing the final 'go forward' or 'abandon' decision process
Escrows and contingent consideration payments

Teaching Faculty

Stephen G. Morrissette, Ph.D

Professor Morrissette serves as the Faculty Director for the Institute and a Visiting Professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

He brings 30 years of transaction experience includes various Chief Financial Officer roles where he was responsible for M&A and post-merger integration.

His career includes 15-years of experience teaching senior executives in Strategic Planning, M&A, and Capital Allocation.

He has been teaching for the Institute since 2015. He was appointed to serve as Faculty Director in 2020.

Exclusively for Corporate M&A Professionals

Designed for Corporate M&A Teams

The M&A Academy was developed for corporate development professionals, strategy leaders, in-house M&A counsel, integration specialists, senior financial analysts, and business executives that are involved in devising and/or executing mergers and acquisitions.

Credits: 10.25 CLE / 12.25 CPE. The Institute is accredited in Illinois. Reciprocity may be available.

Structured M&A Frameworks

Cross-Functional Perspectives

End-to-End Deal Understanding

“The M&A Academy is a great way to get up to speed on corporate development best practices."

M&A Integration Manager

Google

Integration Management Office Manager

Cargill

“An excellent time spent away from the office, to come together to learn, share, and expand knowledge surrounding the M&A process. The attendee's were diverse - multiple different backgrounds, industries, etc - that it enabled great discussion, learnings and new found LinkedIn connections. Overall, I would definitely recommend this M&A course!"

Director & Associate General Counsel, Competition Law

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

"The M&A Academy provided me with insights that I will use to take deeper and alternative looks at transaction rationales in my deal analysis activities. The best aspect by far was the breadth of knowledge transfer that you get as a result of the diversity and depth of experience possessed by the participants."

Corporate Development Lead

Block, Inc.

"Enjoyed bringing my team together to learn about M&A in a more structured environment, with other professionals from other companies/industries (vs. mostly by just doing deals!). It helped to complement the existing deal experience the team had."

Senior Manager, M&A

NielsenIQ

"Professor Steve Morrissette gives you a valuable toolkit to create value within your M&A team. This course skips the mundane text-book definitions and dives right in to the key points in sourcing a deal, running a process, and how to link these to a successful integration plan."

Senior Director, Corporate Strategy

Tyson Foods

"As someone who has some experience in M&A, the M&A Academy was a great class for both beginners and experienced practitioners alike."

Director, Corporate M&A

DuPont

“Engaging context with practical, real life experiences to help the M&A 'boots on the ground' practitioner.”

Corporate Development Director

Akamai Technologies

"The M&A Academy really taught me how to best translate my company's broader objectives into a cohesive M&A strategy. I've already put material from this M&A course into practice at my company.”

Senior Counsel, M&A & Securities

Acuity Brands

"Professor Steve Morrissette's instruction and discussion leading were engaging and informed by a wealth of practical and theoretical knowledge. Nearly as valuable were the perspectives and experiences shared by my fellow practitioners taking the class. It was very helpful to check our approach and process against established thinking and the real-life practice of Professor Steve Morrissette and my classmates."

Corporate Strategy Manager

USG Corporation

“Professor Steve Morrissette was great. The energy level he brought to the class was amazing and his ability to quickly translate questions into real world examples was interesting and helpful”.

Exclusively for Corporate M&A Professionals