HOW M&A DECISIONS ARE MADE INSIDE THE BOARDROOM

This course is a practical, execution-focused guide to how M&A deals are actually done in the real world. Designed for professionals, founders, and advisors, it walks you through the entire M&A lifecycle — from acquisition strategy and target screening to valuation, negotiation, due diligence, board approvals, deal execution, and post-closing integration.

Unlike academic or overly technical courses, this program focuses on decision-making, deal judgment, and execution discipline — the skills that differentiate successful dealmakers from observers.

You will learn how to:

• Build and defend an acquisition thesis

• Screen and prioritize targets efficiently

• Structure deals and negotiate key commercial terms

• Translate due diligence findings into price and risk protection

• Prepare board-ready investment cases

• Manage deal execution and closing events

• Plan integration to protect deal value

This course is built on real M&A transactions, including mid-market and large cross-border deals, and is suitable for anyone looking to lead, support, or evaluate M&A transactions with confidence.

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:

• Design a clear acquisition strategy and search criteria

• Evaluate targets using strategic and financial filters

• Build and defend valuation models and assumptions

• Structure deals using earn-outs, deferred payouts, and equity swaps

• Lead or support LOI and term sheet negotiations

• Execute due diligence with a risk-prioritization mindset

• Convert DD findings into pricing and legal protections

• Prepare board-level M&A approval decks

• Manage deal execution, signing, and closing

• Plan integration to ensure value realization post-close