This in-depth M&A course covers best practices in the deal process

  • Develop a clear M&A thesis to maximize the economic benefit of a transaction

  • Properly identify the risks associated with a transaction and manage exposure to liabilities

  • Reduce the amount of time absorbed by the M&A process and improve certainty of execution

Curriculum | M&A Academy

March 14  & 15, 2023

M&A Strategy & Process Management

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


M&A Valuation & Diligence

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


M&A Governance and Closing

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

The M&A Academy is designed 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. 

Upon completion, you will receive 10.25 CLE credit hours and/or 12.25 CPE credits (if applicable), course certification for LinkedIn, and a tombstone for your desk.

You will also be invited to join a confidential discussion community for exchanging ideas, best practices, recommendations, and information with other M&A Academy alumni.

Faculty | M&A Academy

Stephen G. Morrissette, Ph.D. is a Professor of Strategic Management at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business where he teaches Merger & Acquisition Strategy. 

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

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

Professor Morrissette has been teaching for the Transaction Advisors Institute since 2015. He was appointed to serve as the Institute's Faculty Director in 2020.


Schedule & Location | M&A Academy

The spring cohort of the M&A Academy will take place at Wharton San Francisco.

Tuesday, March 14, 2023  -  8:30am - 5:00pm PST

Wine reception & dinner - 5:30pm - 7:30pm PST

Prospect
300 Spear Street
San Francisco, CA 

Wednesday, March 15, 2023     8:30am - 12:00pm PST

2 Harrison Street, 6th Floor 

Member Reviews | M&A Academy

"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.”
Corporate Development Director at Akamai Technologies

“This is an excellent M&A course - Professor Morrissette shares best practices and provides great ideas to help you improve your M&A process to add value at your organization. The class discussions and events after class provide great opportunities to learn from the experiences of other M&A practitioners.”
Senior Manager, Corporate Development at DrFirst.com

“The M&A Academy is a great way to get up to speed with how corporate development professionals outside your firm think and to learn about industry practices.
M&A Integration Manager at Google

“Prof. Morrisette has deep knowledge and real-world experience of M&A and presents this complex topic in a logical and effective manner. I would highly recommend this M&A course to any individual or team looking to improve planning and execution of the corporate development process.
Chief Executive Officer at Devensoft

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

“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!
Integration Management Office Manager at Cargill

"Professor 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 Manager, M&A at NielsenIQ

Also at Wharton San Francisco

M&A Conference | March 15-16

Stay on campus for the annual M&A Conference at Wharton San Francisco - a cross-disciplinary program that draws on experienced M&A professionals from various industries and regions who share first-hand experiences, best practices, and recommendations for navigating deals through both internal and external challenges.
Learn More
Transaction Advisors Institute M&A Conference