Engineering the M&A Process

M&A Academy

MARCH 17 & 18, 2026 | WHARTON SAN FRANCISCO

$2500 | $0 for members Learn About All Access Membership Accounts

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, MARCH 17 | 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM PST

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, MARCH 17 | 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM PST

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, MARCH 18 | 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM PST

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.

Engineering high-performing transactions

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. 

The Institute is an accredited provider of CPE and CLE in Illinois. This M&A Academy offers 10.25 CLE credits and 12.25 CPE credits. An Illinois certificate will be issued. If you are licensed in another state, please check for reciprocity regarding continuing education credits.

“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

M&A Academy at Wharton San Francisco

Tuesday, March 17, 2026

  • Continental Breakfast | 8:10 am - 8:30 am

  • Section 1 | 8:30 am - 12:00 pm

  • Lunch | 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

  • Section 2 | 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm

  • Reception | 5:15 pm - 6:15 pm

Wednesday, March 18, 2026

$2500 | $0 for members All Access Membership Accounts

Registration is not open to M&A consultants, advisors, or vendors.
Unqualified registrations will be canceled and refunded, less a $100 bank processing fee.

Also at Wharton San Francisco

M&A Conference San Francisco

MARCH 18 & 19, 2026

This prestigious annual M&A conference brings together corporate M&A teams to discuss current challenges impacting complex transactions and consider innovative methods for improving the deal process and transaction performance.

​Learn More