• Executive education

Private Equity

This eleven‑week online programme explores private equity as both a financing tool and an investment opportunity, covering the full deal lifecycle from fundraising to exit.

Course key facts

  • Date

    23 April, 2026

    25 June, 2026

  • Duration

    11 weeks

  • Credits

    Non credit bearing

  • Format

    Online

  • Fee

    £1,450

Overview

Private Equity examines the role of private equity as a financing tool and as an investment opportunity, and explores the critical issues that the parties involved in a transaction - investors, lending banks, managers, entrepreneurs/shareholders and advisors - will face during the investment process and their negotiations. 

This 11 week online programme draws on expertise from Imperial Business School faculty, industry experts and case studies. You will explore the types and economics of private equity and topics such as raising equity and debt, growth capital, leveraged buyouts, and distress. You'll also learn how to set up private equity firms and funds, and discover career opportunities available in the industry.

You will finish the programme prepared to implement your learnings, and with a verified Digital Certificate.

Learning journey

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

  • Recognise the various forms of corporate restructuring and their potential value.
  • Identify the differences, functions, benefits and challenges of M&A.
  • Illustrate the M&A process, including structuring, negotiating and valuating.
  • Explain the factors and process for successful post-merger integration.
  • Identify the responsibilities of each player in an M&A deal.

Week 1: Programme orientation

Begin the programme by introducing yourself to your global classmates and becoming familiar with the learning platform used throughout the curriculum.

Week 2: Introduction to the private equity industry

Examine the history of private equity, analyse the types of companies and their motivation for investing in private equity and describe the various stages of private equity investing.

Week 3: Types and economics of private equity

Identify private equity financing opportunities, determine the value creation drivers in growth capital, development capital, leveraged buyouts, and distressed situations, and analyse the factors to take a private company public.

Course details

What participants say

It was a well-set-up programme from a technical and platform point of view. Module content was excellent with and in-depth completeness of the programme. Martin Huber Head of Treasury Europe, Nestle

Your instructor

Marc Kitten

Founding partner, Candesic Strategy Consultants

Marc Kitten is a founding partner at Candesic Strategy Consultants in London. He has 25 years of experience of transactions and financial markets. He advises corporations and financial investors in the areas of corporate strategy and corporate finance. He serves on the boards of several fast-growing companies. Prior to co-founding Candesic, he was a consultant at McKinsey & Co. In London and a Vice-President at Deutsche Bank in Frankfurt. He is the author of the 2009 Vault Guide to Careers in Private Equity in Europe and has published several case studies.

Contact us

Hannah Hynd

Business Development Manager – Open Programmes