Merger and acquisition education and training is essential to successful navigate the waters of a corporate purchase and the restructuring process that follows. Without M&A training, you and your organization may not be as well positioned to take advantage of acquisition opportunities or negotiate from a position of strength. M&A seminars can help you to make smart, yet tough, decisions regarding resource allocation and much more post-merger, ultimately saving your organization money in the long run.

This article will discuss the pricing and costs of merger and acquisition education and training as it applies to each area of study. There are three primary ways to get a leg up on the competition by receiving merger and acquisition training:

1. Attend M&A classes offered by a reputable university.

2. Enroll in M&A seminars offered by a well-regarded company or organization.

3. Purchase books or multimedia tools on M&A education authored by experts.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Receive your merger and acquisition training and education at a reputable university.

Many highly esteemed universities offer M&A educational seminars and courses in M&A via their adult or continuing education schools. Often the priciest option for furthering one's education, completion of these programs does not come without prestige. They are often targeted at executives involved in the M&A process.

I recommend: CFO's article discusses the benefits of attending CalTech's $1,795 M&A program. Loyola University Chicago's five-day Certified Merger & Acquisition Advisor Credentialing Program costs $3,500 to attend.

Enroll in mergers and acquisition seminars offered by well-regarded companies or organizations

M&A seminars are less costly than many university programs and generally are shorter in duration. Many of these seminars target specific aspects of the M&A process such as people management, valuation and advisory training.

I recommend: Morrison & Foerster, a global legal firm, offers speakers and seminars about M&A that run anywhere from $200 to $500 for the day-long event. The Seminar Information Service advertises an M&A seminar being offered by the National Center for Continuing Education. This two-day conference costs $1,395 and targets accounting and financial professionals.

Buy books or multimedia tools on M&A education authored by experts

Purchasing books or other multimedia tools like DVDs or CDs is generally the least expensive way to further your M&A education. Many of these books have been penned by experts, can be reviewed at your own pace and can be shared with others in your organization.

I recommend: ALI ABA, or the American Legal Institute/American Bar Association, has produced an M&A DVD that you can order in lieu of attending their course. The DVD costs $799, but can be viewed from your PC or DVD player and comes with a digital coursebook. MBAWare Enterprises, a self-proclaimed business software source, carries many books on the topic of M&A and, in particular, valuation. Many of this site's selections appear to be printed in hardback and cost anywhere from $75 to $200.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Economize by locating M&A seminars close to home and avoid paying for lodging and transportation associated with multi-day, out-of-town classes. A good place to start is by calling your local college or university and seeing if a law firm in your area specializes in M&A and holds conferences on the topic.

Merger and acquisition education and training can get you started in a great career. With the proper M&A training, you will be able to enter a field that is exciting and provides plenty of opportunities for growth.

Mergers and acquisitions specialists have a high earning potential. They are also frequently able to travel. It is a career field that has a lot of room for growth. M&A education at a 4-year university will help you to get your first job while M&A seminars will help keep you up to date.

Think you have what it takes to be a mergers and acquisition specialist? Those looking into the field should:

1. Have an analytical mind.
2. Have the ability to explain complex financial issues in a way that is easy to understand.
3. Be willing to work long hours.
4. Receive merger and acquisition education and training.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Receive a 4-year degree in finance

Most successful M&A specialists have received a degree from a 4-year college or university. You should major in finance, accounting, or business. You can become a specialist in M&A by taking as many courses in M&A as you can.

I recommend: Check local colleges to see if they offer degrees in finance. US News and World Reports lists a number of colleges with finance programs. Many of these colleges also have specific classes in M&A, such as this program at the University of Georgia.

Consider getting an MBA online

Having an MBA will put you on the top of the pile of resumes, but it is difficult to attend college courses while you are working. It is possible to receive these degrees online, studying whenever you have time.

I recommend: Colorado State University and Penn State University are two schools that offer MBA programs online. You can study at home, but will still be able to interact with other students virtually.

Attend mergers and acquisitions seminars

Attending mergers and acquisitions seminars will help to keep you up to date on new theories. They are also a good introduction for people who are not already working in the field.

I recommend: Sales Training America offers one-day M&A seminars. The American Management Association offers three-day seminars in M&A.

Receive M&A certification

Many M&A classes offer the opportunity to receive a certification in mergers and acquisitions. This certification will help you qualify for better jobs and higher pay.

I recommend: The Alliance of Merger and Acquisition Analysts offers a certification program. You can get a brochure from their website. The American Academy of Financial Management offers similar programs.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Most M&A education programs offer financial aid to help you pay for the program.
• •  Hire a professional resume writer to make your resume look good by highlighting the M&A training you have received.

Merger and acquisition education and training can move you into a position to get in on the action. M&A activity has been busier than ever in recent years. Proper M&A training will make you better qualified to help your business achieve maximized value and create a sustainable competitive advantage.

Acquisitions are complicated and managing them smoothly is not an easy task. An M&A education, whether it be through M&A seminars, classes in M&A, or even valuation and advisory training, is your best shot at learning how to successfully handle acquisitions or mergers that come your way. This article will review some merger and acquisition education and training basics and three ways to further pursue M&A knowledge.

1. Enroll in a merger and acquisition class offered by an accredited university.

2. Attend mergers and acquisition seminars offered by industry experts.

3. Read books written by M&A experts.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get an M&A education through an accredited university program

Many reputable educational institutions offer coursework in mergers and acquisitions via their schools of executive learning or adult education. Taught by well-regarded professors, these courses are generally intense but brief, lasting no longer than one week.

I recommend: The University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School offers a five-day M&A course that targets executives involved in creating or implementing an acquisition. Harvard Business School offers a similar course for those involved in corporate restructuring.

Attend mergers and acquisition seminars offered by industry experts

Training experts and associations are often well suited to provide targeted educational advice regarding M&A. These types of courses may be less formal than classroom training, and in many cases take up less time than a course offered at the university level.

I recommend: The American Management Association's course on mergers and acquisitions covers financial planning as well as negotiation strategies. Pritchett offers M&A training and consulting services.

Read books authored by M&A training experts

If you're not ready to commit to a course, consider purchasing one book or several covering the topic of M&A. If you are considering enrolling in a program or have already completed a course, M&A books may offer you added insight, or at least serve as a reference.

I recommend: The Global Investor Bookshop specializes in books on finance and has several on the topic of M&A. Aspatore advertises itself as a publisher of business and legal books, journals, reports, etc., many covering the subject of mergers and acquisitions.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider letting an entire group receive an M&A education at once by hiring an onsite training group to provide M&A seminars at your workplace. This approach lets you learn with those in your organization that will likely be navigating the potentially rough water during a potential acquisition process.

Though merger and acquisition, or M&A, services have become increasingly more important in today's marketplace, there is no one standard of education for M&A brokers. Traditionally, a financial professional, be it a financial analyst or corporate attorney, studies under an experienced M&A practitioner and learns the art of making a deal. That said, there are several skills specific to M&A, as well as some well-regarded programs that can give aspiring M&A professionals a leg up.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Certified Merger & Acquisition Advisor (CM&AA)

The Certified Merger & Acquisition Advisor (CM&AA) designation is awarded by the Alliance of Merger & Acquisition Advisors (AM&AA). It is well-regarded within the industry and teaches basic skills like business valuation, tax and legal matters, buy- and sell-side representation, and financing.

I recommend: Loyola University offers a joint program with the AM&AA. Students who complete it successfully get the CM&AA designation and a year-long membership.

Buy-and sell-side representation and advisory

A merger is said to be a union of equals, while an acquisition is basically a takeover. In reality, there are far more acquisitions than mergers. Buy-side advisors represent buyers who want to take over a company; sell-side advisors get the best deal possible for the business being acquired.

I recommend: Baird describes the jobs of its first-year M&A analysts from both the buy and sell side.

Valuation and analysis

When one company is thinking of buying another, naturally the buyer wants to have a clear idea of its prospect's worth. Valuation uses several tools, including price-earnings ratios, enterprise-value-to-sales ratios and discounted cash flow analysis, to assemble a picture of a what a company is likely to earn.

I recommend: Investopedia has a good explanation of valuation and its importance in M&A deals.

Middle-market M&A

Middle market M&A deals take place between two companies that each have revenues between $10 and $50 million. Though mega mergers involving large corporations get the most attention, a vast majority of M&A activity occurs in the middle market.

I recommend: Grant Thornton publishes its outlook on the role of private equity in middle-market M&A.

Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)

The CFA program is administered by the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute; it is the closest thing to a standard certification within the industry. The program takes three years and three tests to complete.

I recommend: The CFA Institute describes the program in depth.

Integration

Once the players settle on a price, the challenge remains to effectively integrate two companies, each with its own set of skilled employees, equipment and contracts, not to mention culture. Integration is crucial to making sure an M&A deal is ultimately successful.

I recommend: PricewaterhouseCoopers outlines its integration services.