Mastering Mergers and Acquisitions

Three of them work together. Module four examines the gains a combination is expected to produce, how to quantify and validate those estimates, and the winner's curse that leads bidders to pay too much. Modules six and seven then give participants the valuation tools, from intrinsic and relative value through DCF, discount rates, terminal value and comparables, so an offer can be anchored to a defensible range rather than to the seller's expectation.

Module six starts from the purpose and principles of valuation, explains intrinsic versus relative value and the market, income and asset approaches, and clarifies enterprise value against equity value before any model is built. Module seven then constructs the DCF step by step, and module ten builds the merger model. A finance professional comfortable with financial statements can follow the sequence from there.

Module nine is given over to it. Participants compare cash, stock and mixed consideration, look at debt financing and leveraged buyouts, examine how structure affects tax efficiency, and learn how earnouts, escrows and contingent payments bridge valuation gaps between buyer and seller. Module ten then shows how those choices flow through the merger model, including the financing effects on accretion and dilution.

Module eight sets out the legal framework that governs deals, how antitrust and competition review works, the approvals and filings that can be required in different jurisdictions, and the securities law and disclosure obligations that apply to listed parties. The intent is awareness rather than legal practice: a deal team that knows which questions to put to counsel early avoids discovering a blocking issue after terms are agreed.

Module five begins with defining acquisition criteria, a step that is easy to skip. It then shows how to build and rank a pipeline of candidates, contrasts proactive sourcing with reacting to whatever a banker brings, and ends with a preliminary fit and feasibility assessment. A corporate development team can apply the method to its own market during the module and arrive at a first list.

Through the administrator dashboard, which lists every enrolled participant with progress and completion status. Because the program is self-paced on the Blue Ocean learning platform, a sponsor can set a target such as finishing the valuation modules before a live process starts, and see at a glance who has reached them. Completion of the modules, knowledge checks and practice assessments earns each participant a digital, verifiable MBE credential.

Use the Register Now button on this page. It opens Mastering Mergers and Acquisitions on the Blue Ocean Academy website, where you can enroll and start learning at your own pace.