Finance
Intermediate

Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A)

2–5 daysENclassroom · virtual

Course overview

Offering an intensive introduction to the complex world of Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A), this course will form the foundation in strategy, regulation, finding a deal, corporate valuation, and more. You will learn about buyer strategies, how M&A can increase business value, and how to start the acquisition process, as well as identify successful acquisitions. The material identifies the types of corporations most likely to be M&A players and the types of corporations most likely to be M&A targets. Delegates will learn the approach, characteristics, and process for successful Sell-side and Buy-Side M&A transactions.

Target audience

University students studying finance or accounting and looking to broaden the scope of their M&A background, Professionals looking to move into corporate finance, Finance professionals looking for a refresher, Anyone who wants to learn about corporate finance.

Course objectives

  • Compare and contrast build and buy strategies
  • Describe the advantages and disadvantages of acquiring a public company
  • Identify the main players in M&A transactions
  • Recognize the common motivations for acquisitions and the reasons many are unsuccessful
  • Identify the methods of structuring a business acquisition
  • Evaluate the intrinsic and relative valuation methods for target companies

Target competencies

M&A characteristics and organizational structures: Goals and investment objectives of various M&A investments
Advantages, risks, expected returns, and costs of M&A activities
The M&A process for both Buy-Side and Sell-Side transactions

Course methodology

This introductory course primarily relies on lecture, class discussion, and Wiley's Investment Banking: Valuation, LBOs, and M&A textbook, although we also utilize in-class individual and group exercises to illustrate theory and practice relevant to financial decision-making regarding Mergers & Acquisitions. Class participants should bring a laptop to the course, preferably with Excel, and should have a basic familiarity with the workings of Excel software. Basic uses of Excel will be reviewed in class. A limited number of more advanced calculations will be explained in detail during the class.

Course outline

OVERVIEW

  • Global M&A
  • Emerging Market M&A Issues
  • Who the key players in the capital markets are
  • What the capital raising process looks like
  • The Buyer's Viewpoint
  • Three Ways M&A can Increases Value
  • Buy vs. Build Synergies

CHARACTERISTICS AND PROCESS OF SELL-SIDE M&A

  • Organization and Preparation
  • Auctions
  • Auction Structure
  • Identify Seller Objectives and Determine Appropriate Sale Process
  • Perform Sell-Side Advisor Due Diligence and Preliminary Valuation Analysis
  • Select Buyer Universe
  • Prepare Marketing Materials
  • Prepare Confidentiality Agreement
  • First Round
  • Contact Prospective Buyers
  • Negotiate and Execute Confidentiality Agreement with Interested Parties
  • Distribute Confidential Information Memorandum and Initial Bid Procedures Letter
  • Prepare Management Presentation
  • Set up Data Room
  • Prepare Stapled Financing Package
  • Receive Initial Bids and Select Buyers to Proceed to Second Round
  • Valuation Perspectives-Strategic Buyers vs. Financial Sponsors
  • Second Round
  • Conduct Management Presentations
  • Facilitate Site Visits
  • Provide Data Room Access
  • Distribute Final Bid Procedures Letter and Draft Definitive Agreement
  • Receive Final Bids
  • Negotiations
  • Evaluate Final Bids
  • Negotiate with Preferred Buyer(s)
  • Select Winning Bidder
  • Render Fairness Opinion
  • Receive Board Approval and Execute Definitive Agreement
  • Closing
  • Obtain Necessary Approvals
  • Shareholder Approval
  • Financing and Closing
  • Negotiated Sale

CHARACTERISTICS AND PROCESS OF BUY-SIDE M&A

  • Buyer Motivation
  • Synergies
  • Cost Synergies
  • Revenue Synergies
  • Acquisition Strategies
  • Horizontal Integration
  • Vertical Integration
  • Conglomeration
  • Form of Financing
  • Cash on Hand
  • Debt Financing
  • Equity Financing
  • Debt vs. Equity Financing Summary-Acquirer Perspective
  • Deal Structure
  • Stock Sale
  • Asset Sale
  • Stock Sales Treated as Asset Sales for Tax Purposes
  • Buy-Side Valuation
  • Analysis at Various Prices
  • Contribution Analysis
  • Merger Consequences Analysis
  • Purchase Price Assumptions
  • Balance Sheet Effects
  • Accretion/(Dilution) Analysis

RISK CONSIDERATIONS FOR M&A

  • Risk vs. return analysis
  • Due diligence and uncovering incorrectly valued and unrecorded assets and liabilities
  • Conducting business through subsidiaries
  • Contingent liabilities
  • Turnaround candidates
  • Operational vs. financial problems

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