Merger and Acquisitions

Building on your Business knowledge in accounting, finance, valuation, strategic management, and organisational behaviour, this programme is designed to expand your skills through course-based training in M&A techniques, acquisitions, and related transactions. The course also explains what happens when a buyer buys a target company: defining the entity being acquired, assessing assets, setting the purchase price, and preparing a clear offer and takeover plan. It is particularly relevant for the following roles: 

• Senior Executives responsible for their firm's growth, portfolio, and investments, especially those seeking to capture value through mergers to create synergies of revenue, cost, and capital.
• Mid-level Managers responsible for accounting, valuation, research, financial modelling and smaller-scale investment decisions, particularly those seeking to transition to an M&A role and to build credibility and influence in deal making.
• Professionals in investment banking and finance who are responsible for sourcing, executing and managing deals, as well as building relationships with investment banks and private investors. It is particularly valuable for consultants seeking to create value for companies and build expertise in deal management.
• Legal Professionals working as legal counsel to investment banking, finance or law firms, especially those who ensure compliance for their clients, structure transactions, provide due diligence and prevent antitrust liability in mergers and acquisitions.
• Consultants advising client organisations on financing and investing decisions looking to understand the M&A process from both sides, identifying the roles of those involved and understand how M&A works in an international context.

At the end of this 11-week online programme, you will be able to: 

• Recognise the various forms of corporate restructuring - merger, acquisition and takeover - and their potential value for a company and its shareholders.
• Identify the differences, functions, benefits and challenges of mergers and acquisitions in the market.
• Illustrate the mergers and acquisitions process, including structuring, negotiating, setting a purchase approach, and valuing assets for the target entity.
• Explain the factors and process for successful post‑merger integration, including how a new combined company aligns strategy, operations, and culture after an acquisition.
• Identify the responsibilities of each player in an mergers and acquisitions deal, including the buyer, advisers, and the target company’s shareholders.
• Apply valuation methods to estimate stock and cash consideration, test synergies, and increase confidence in the final purchase decision. 

What type of certificate will I receive?

Upon successful completion of the programme and course, you will receive a smart digital certificate. The smart digital certificate can be shared with friends, family, schools, professional networks, or potential employers. You can use it on your cover letter or resume and/or display it on your LinkedIn profile. The digital certificate will be sent approximately two weeks after the programme, once grading is complete. 

Only verified smart digital certificates will be issued upon successful completion. This allows you to share your credentials on social networking platforms, such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. 

Successful completion of the Mergers & Acquisitions programme may be used for credit on the Imperial Business School Global Online MBA, subject to acceptance onto the programme and the payment of a small fee. 

Take your partnership with Imperial to the next level by becoming an Associate Alumnus. Complete one (1) of our on-campus, online, and virtual programmes to claim 'Associate Alumnus' status and join our active alumni community. 

Some of the benefits of becoming an Associate Alumnus include:

• Access to the Imperial Alumni LinkedIn group
• Invites to relevant events and webinars 
• 25% Discount on future learning for yourself and up to three your colleagues

If you are interested in finding out more, contact us today!

Each programme and course includes an estimated learner effort per week. This is referenced at the top of the programme web page under the Duration  section, as well as in the programme brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this page. 

How will my time be spent?

We have designed this programme to fit into your current working life as efficiently as possible. Time will be spent across a variety of activities, including: 

• Engaging with recorded video lectures from faculty

• Attending webinars and office hours, as per the specific programme schedule

• Reading or engaging with examples of core topics across the market and industry

• Completing knowledge checks and quizzes

• Engaging in moderated discussion groups with your peers

• Completing your final project, if required

The programme is designed to be highly interactive while allowing time for self-reflection and to demonstrate an understanding of the core topics through various active learning exercises. Please email us if you need further clarification on programme activities. 

A dedicated programme support team is available 24/5 (Monday to Friday) to answer questions about the learning platform, technical issues, or anything else that may affect your learning experience.