Exclusively for Corporate M&A Professionals

M&A Diligence Master Class

APRIL 17, 2026 | LIVE-ONLINE

$1,500 | $0 for Members Become an All Access Member

Kevin Hutchin's practical curriculum and empirical examples drive engagement during this M&A Master Class, which delivers an end-to-end look at the diligence process. The tactics and methods that are shared throughout this program provide a well rounded confirmatory basis for an acquisition and unique insights on post-close value creation challenges and opportunities.

  • Improve your ability to design an effective diligence process
  • Learn to effectively identify risks to the value drivers and bias in the deal model
  • Properly validate the investment thesis and synergies

FRIDAY, APRIL 17 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM CST

Section 1: Setting M&A diligence objectives and approach

  • Confirming the deal thesis and strategic rationale
  • Evaluating the target's standalone forecast and synergy thesis
  • Methods for linking diligence with an end-to-end integration assessment
  • Mapping diligence phases, setting timelines, and structuring the team
  • Identifying positive and negative bias in diligence assessments
  • Adjusting the M&A diligence approach for various deal types

(The section timings are subject to change)

FRIDAY, APRIL 17 | 12:30 PM - 2:15 PM CST

Section 2: Quality of earnings diligence and risk identification methods

  • Conducting commercial diligence including market and customer assessments
  • Evaluating sources of cash, seasonality, and operating / non-operating cash flows
  • Assessing recurring / non recurring revenues, AR, AP and inventory roll forward
  • Performing operational diligence including production, inventory, and supply chain
  • Evaluating culture, leadership, skills, and human capital assets and liabilities / risks
  • Reviewing regulatory and legal risks including litigation and change in control limitations
  • Technology assessments including IP ownership and quality of code
  • Accounting positions, audit quality, and financial governance
  • Tax positions and risk allocation
  • FCPA diligence methods

(The section timings are subject to change)

FRIDAY, APRIL 17 | 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM CST

Section 3: Advanced diligence techniques

  • Methods for assess scalability and post-close growth obstacles
  • Unlocking additional sources of value beyond the primary deal drivers
  • Applying diligence findings to the synergy model and integration plans
  • Identifying and addressing potential issues and risks in the diligence process
  • Using AI and M&A technology platforms to improve diligence
  • Institutionalizing key concepts and best practices

(The section timings are subject to change)

Kevin Hutchins, Senior Vice President, Strategy & Corporate Development, Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Professor Hutchins teaches courses on mergers, acquisitions and restructuring at Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business

In addition, he serves as Senior Vice President, Strategy & Corporate Development at Hewlett Packard Enterprise, where he is responsible for driving the company’s inorganic growth through strategic partnerships, acquisitions, divestitures, and venture investments.

He has been teaching for the Institute since 2019.

Exclusively for Corporate M&A Professionals

Designed for Corporate M&A Teams

The Institute's M&A Master Classes provide focused, technical deep-dives into critical phases of the transaction process. Each is designed for corporate M&A teams, enabling them to engineer greater structural integrity within specific transaction workstreams.

Credits: 4.75 CLE / 5.50 CPE. The Institute is accredited in Illinois. Reciprocity may be available.

“The M&A Diligence Master Class led by Kevin Hutchins was incredibly informative and provided a great forum for exchanging experiences across companies in the M&A space."

Director, Mergers & Acquisitions Finance

Microsoft

Deal Lead, Corporate Development

Block

"The M&A Diligence Master Class provided a wealth of knowledge, practical applications, and thought provoking questions around a key but often overlooked areas in the transaction flow."

Senior Associate, Corporate Strategy

Samuel, Son & Co.

"Kevin Hutchins presents the material very well and provided many "war stories" to back the theory/ framework with practical examples.”

M&A Manager

Beacon Mobility

"This class was great for individuals who are just starting out as well as those with experience looking to hear how others have expanded on best practices and team development."

Sr Director of Strategy & Corporate Development

Worthington Steel

"I highly recommend this class for exposure to other M&A professionals and new thoughts in diligence and planning."

Vice President Corporate Development

Culligan

“The M&A Diligence Master Class was an outstanding class with meaningful take-aways. Much more broadly applicable than I had anticipated. Kevin Hutchins was a remarkably qualified and skilled instructor.”

Corporate HR M&A, Global Project Manager

DuPont

"The training was lively and very valuable to link important aspects of due diligence together. Especially as an M&A HR practitioner, you rarely get the opportunity to see the full picture. Kevin Hutchins is a great facilitator and knows how to encourage great discussions among the participants."

Exclusively for Corporate M&A Professionals

M&A Diligence Master Class

Friday, April 17, 2026 | Live-online

  • Section 1 | 10:00 - 12:00
  • Break | 12:00 - 12:30
  • Section 2 | 12:30 - 2:15
  • Break | 2:15 - 2:30
  • Section 3 | 2:30 - 3:30

$1,500 | $0 for Members Become an All Access Member

Exclusively for Corporate M&A Professionals

M&A Academy

SAN FRANCISCO | CHICAGO | NEW YORK

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.

Learn More