M&A Due Diligence Course

Master the M&A Due Diligence course that prepares you to analyze, evaluate, and manage every risk in the merger acquisition due diligence process. From commercial and financial due diligence to HR, legal, tax, and IT, this module equips you with the full toolkit for executing successful transactions. Built on 20+ years of global advisory experience, it blends structured frameworks, real case studies, and AI-powered persona simulations.

This course sits within the M&A Institute learning framework as follows:
● M&A Step 1-1: Merger and Acquisition Process in Practice
● M&A Step 1-2: Developing an M&A Strategy
● M&A Step 2-1: Deal Sourcing & Desktop Due Diligence
● M&A Step 2-2: Quick Valuation
● M&A Step 3-1: M&A Due Diligence: CDD, FDD, LDD, & HRDD (this course)
● M&A Step 3-2: Acquisition Finance
● M&A Step 4: Negotiation Skills & Sales and Purchase Agreement
● M&A Step 5: Post-Merger Integration & Value Creation

With this M&A Due Diligence course, you will:
● Master the 5 Core Areas of DD: Conduct expert-level Commercial, Financial, Legal, HR, and Technology due diligence.
● Identify Hidden Risks & Red Flags: Learn to spot critical issues in financial statements, contracts, and operations that others miss.
● Practice with Realistic AI Simulations: Lead complex due diligence investigations in an interactive, risk-free environment.

Prerequisites
While beginners are advised to follow modules in order,
this course is self-contained for learners focused on M&A due diligence.

Duration
Complete this module within 3 months.
● 21 Lessons with quizzes and applied case studies
● Each lesson designed for 2 or more hours
● Total learning time: approximately 40~45 hours

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Category: M&A Transaction and PMI Planning

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Our 3-Stage Path to DD Mastery

Transform financial theory into practical, deal-ready expertise
through our structured, application-driven methodology.

Step 1: Learn Core Concepts

Dive deep into 21 comprehensive, expert-led lessons.

Reinforce your learning with a quiz in every single lesson.

Gain real-world context via practical case study insights.

Step 2: AI Interactive Simulation

Lead two distinct, advanced AI-powered simulations.

Develop practical judgment in realistic M&A scenarios.

Master the course in just 8 weeks at 6 hours per week.

Step 3" Get a Badge

Complete all 21 lessons and the final AI simulation.

Pass the final assessment with a score of 70% or more.

Earn a verifiable module badge to prove your expertise.

Example of the AI-driven Interactive Deal Simulation

Detailed Course Curriculum

Course Content

📖 I. Preparation for M&A Due Diligence

📖 II. CDD, Tech DD, and IT DD

💡🤖 AI Simulation Exercise for Section I and II

📖 III. FDD, Tax DD, and Pension DD

📖 IV. Legal DD, IP DD, and Regulation DD

📖 V. HR DD, Culture DD, and Management DD

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Module Description

This M&A Due Diligence course is structured into 6 comprehensive sections:

Section I. Preparation for M&A Due Diligence

● Introduction to M&A due diligence and its role in transaction success.
● Preparing for DD: scoping, data room design, team coordination.
● Risk mitigation strategies before deal signing.
● How to work effectively with M&A advisors.

Section II. CDD, TDD, and IT DD

● Conducting Commercial Due Diligence (CDD): market sizing, customer base, competitive positioning.
● Writing a CDD Report with structured recommendations.
● Technology and IT due diligence: evaluating IP, platforms, and production technologies.

Section III. HR, Culture, and Management DD

● HR due diligence essentials: compensation, pension liabilities, labor risks.
● Cultural due diligence: diagnosing organizational alignment.
● Management due diligence: assessing leadership competence and integration fit.

Section IV. Financial, Tax, and Pension DD

● Financial due diligence: income statements, EBITDA normalization, working capital analysis.
● Tax due diligence: identifying current exposures, deferred tax assets, and ● cross-border implications.
Pension due diligence: quantifying liabilities and long-term funding risks.

Section V. Legal, IP, and Regulatory DD

● Legal due diligence: contracts, litigation, compliance.
● Intellectual property due diligence: patents, trademarks, licensing.
● Regulatory and anti-trust due diligence.
● Environmental due diligence: ESG and sustainability factors.

Section VI. AI-Driven Application & Quiz

● AI Persona Simulation – Lead a cross-functional DD taskforce under time and information pressure.
● AI Persona Simulation – Navigate a high-stakes merger acquisition due diligence review with board-level stakeholders.
● Final Test for Certification Badge - Prove your mastery and earn your verifiable badge.

due diligence process in mergers and acquisitions

Case Studies

This M&A Due Diligence course uses real-world examples to teach practical, actionable lessons. Notable cases include:

HP's Acquisition of Autonomy: A cautionary tale on the catastrophic cost of inadequate financial due diligence and overlooking accounting red flags.

Disney's Acquisition of Marvel: A masterclass in operational and legal DD, showing how to value and protect a massive intellectual property portfolio.

AT&T's Acquisition of Time Warner: Demonstrates the critical importance of proactive antitrust due diligence to navigate regulatory hurdles in a mega-merger.

OXY’s Acquisition of APC: A deep dive into environmental due diligence, showcasing how to identify and mitigate significant contamination liabilities in the energy sector.

The Carillion Collapse: A stark reminder of the devastating impact of failed pension due diligence and how underfunded schemes can hide massive financial risks.

What You Will Gain from This Module

By completing this M&A Due Diligence course, you will achieve:

Master the End-to-End Due Diligence Process

Gain a holistic understanding of the entire due diligence process in mergers and acquisitions. You will learn to plan, scope, manage, and execute a comprehensive investigation that aligns with strategic deal objectives from start to finish.

Conduct In-Depth Financial Due Diligence (FDD)

Develop the expertise to scrutinize financial statements, normalize EBITDA to find true earning power, identify hidden liabilities and risks in the balance sheet, and accurately quantify potential synergies to validate a company's valuation.

Analyze Commercial Viability and Market Risk (CDD)

Learn to assess a target's market position, competitive landscape, customer concentration, and growth sustainability. You will be able to confidently answer the most important question: "Is this a good business to acquire?"

Mitigate Critical Legal, Regulatory, and IP Risks (LDD)

Acquire the skills to navigate the complexities of legal due diligence. You will learn to analyze contracts, verify IP ownership, ensure regulatory compliance, and identify antitrust or environmental red flags that could derail a transaction.

Assess Human Capital and Cultural Fit (HRDD)

Understand how to evaluate the most critical asset: people. You will learn to assess leadership teams, identify key talent for retention, analyze compensation and pension liabilities, and plan for a smooth cultural integration.

Develop Real-World Judgment with AI-Powered Simulations

Move from theory to practice in our interactive AI simulations. You will step into the role of a deal lead, facing realistic challenges, interviewing a target's CFO, and making critical decisions to hone your investigative instincts.

Who Made This Course?

The M&A Institute team combines CFA/MBA credentials with complex transactions, advisory roles, and buyout investments within leading PE and IB firms. his unique blend ensures our M&A Due Diligence course is comprehensive, easy to understand, and immediately applicable.

Our instructors have trained 10,000+ professionals across Samsung, LG, SK, and Hyundai, and authored leading M&A texts including "M&A Transactions & PMI Strategy and Corporate Investment Valuation".

What Our Corporate Clients Say:

Practical, insightful, and engaging M&A training that exceeded our expectations. The module on merger acquisition due diligence was particularly valuable for our team's execution capabilities.

H Group

The training helped me transition from early-stage startup investment to M&A. The practical knowledge and insights from the due diligence process in mergers and acquisitions were invaluable.

S Group

Excellent course with high satisfaction and practical value. Highly recommended for any professional involved in a merger due diligence lifecycle.

L Chemical

Our Book

Comprehensive and Practical M&A Due Diligence Book

Drawn from extensive global training provided to industry-leading companies such as Samsung, LG, Hyundai, and SK Group, this M&A Due Diligence book offers rigorous tools, in-depth insights, and structured processes that allow professionals to confidently navigate every facet of acquisition evaluation.

Each chapter moves beyond theory, equipping you with practical skills to thoroughly assess market conditions, uncover critical financial risks, identify hidden legal liabilities, and address human resource challenges. Whether you’re managing a data room, conducting tax and pension risk assessments, or evaluating leadership teams, this guide covers every essential due diligence area with detailed frameworks and actionable checklists.

What makes this M&A Due Diligence book uniquely effective is its integration of AI-powered simulations. These scenario-based exercises place readers in realistic acquisition roles, such as conducting Commercial Due Diligence for a high-growth SaaS enterprise, tackling regulatory complexities in Legal Due Diligence, or appraising senior management teams through HR Due Diligence simulations. Such immersive scenarios deliver immediate clarity and practical confidence.

Ideal for corporate development professionals, private equity analysts, business students, and legal advisors, this M&A Due Diligence book provides you with proven strategies and real-world skills to lead due diligence evaluations. With its practice-oriented approach and alignment to professional standards, this resource ensures you can execute complex assessments effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is this course for?

This course is designed for any professional involved in evaluating M&A opportunities. It is ideal for:
● Corporate Development, Strategy, and M&A teams
● Private Equity, Venture Capital, and Investment Banking professionals
● Due Diligence specialists and transaction advisory consultants
● Legal, HR, and operational leaders tasked with vetting acquisitions.

Do I need a finance background?

While helpful, it is not strictly required. This M&A Due Diligence course is comprehensive and covers the process from multiple angles (legal, commercial, HR, etc.), making it valuable for professionals from various backgrounds who need to understand the full scope of merger acquisition due diligence.

What are the prerequisites?

This module is self-contained for learners focused on due diligence. However, a basic understanding of the M&A transaction process (covered in our Module 1) provides helpful context.

How long will I have access to the course materials?

You will have full access to all 21 courses, materials, and the two AI simulations for 3 months from your date of purchase.

How practical is the content?

This course is 100% focused on practical application. You will learn by doing:
● Real-World Case Studies: Every concept is linked to a real deal, from Disney/Marvel to HP/Autonomy.
● In-Depth Methodologies: You learn the step-by-step processes for conducting FDD, CDD, LDD, and more.
● Two AI Simulations: You'll apply your knowledge by leading two different due diligence scenarios in our interactive simulations.

What is the AI simulation like?

It is an interactive, role-playing exercise where you are the lead on a due diligence team. You will be presented with realistic scenarios and a set of choices. The AI-powered system, acting as the target company's management, provides instant feedback and evolving situations based on your questions, allowing you to experience the investigation process firsthand.

Will I receive a certificate?

Yes. After completing all 21 lessons and scoring 70% or higher on the final quiz, you will earn a verifiable certificate from the M&A Institute to showcase your specialized expertise in M&A Due Diligence.

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