Mergers & Acquisitions

Programme overview

A well-executed merger deal brings huge potential, but success is not guaranteed. To improve the odds, top M&A specialists use effective tactics to analyse and execute corporate restructuring. These proven skills and strategic approaches are the focus of Imperial's Mergers & Acquisitions programme. 

This 11-week online programme leads you through both the financial and the strategic aspects of corporate restructuring. You will identify the functions, benefits, and challenges of various forms of mergers and acquisitions, and by the programme's close you will be equipped to participate in a successful M&A deal, from identifying the benefits for both buyer and seller, to establishing valuation, to leveraging bidding techniques. You will gain a deeper awareness of the players and processes in mergers and acquisitions, and will learn the frameworks to create value at every stage of the transaction cycle. 

You will experience live online teaching sessions, video lectures, interactive activities and assignments whilst receiving personal support from a dedicated Learning Team.

You will finish the programme prepared to implement your learnings, and with a verified Digital Certificate from Imperial College Business School Executive Education.

Who should attend?

Building on your business knowledge in accounting, finance, valuation, strategic management, and organisational behaviour, this programme is designed to expand your skills in M&A techniques and transactions. 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.

Learning Objectives

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.

Learning Journey

Module 1: Corporate Finance and Strategy- Review of Relevant Concepts

Module 2: Mergers & Acquisitions- Background

Module 3: Motives, Strategies and Empirical Performance

Module 4: Forms of Corporate Restructuring

Module 5: M&A Process

Module 6: Takeover Tactics and Defenses

Module 7: Hyper Leverage as an M&A Defense 

Module 8: After the Deal

Module 9: International M&A

Module 10: M&A Industry and Careers

Imperial College Business School Global MBA

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