MADEX — M&A Certification Exam
Earn the MADEX — M&A Deal Expert Credential
Prove Your Deal Capability and Earn MADEX
This is the MADEX — M&A certification exam only — no course included. If you already have working M&A knowledge, from strategy through PMI, take the exam directly.
If you need to build that capability first, the Certification Bundle pairs the exam with the M&A Full Course and Valuation Course.
MADEX is the mergers and acquisitions certification built on transaction judgment and decision.
What's Included
● MADEX Certification Examination
Certification Exam
● 3-Step Practical Assessment
● Take each exam Step separately when ready
● 6 Hours Total
● 70/100 Passing Score
Credential Awarded
● MADEX Certificate
● Professional Competency Statement
Access
● 2-Month Access
● 100% Online & Self-Paced
Relevant Careers Paths
Corporate Development · Investment Banking · Private Equity · M&A Transaction Advisory · M&A Strategy · M&A Finance & Valuation
Download the Detailed MADEX Certification Guide
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Why Choose MADEX?
A Practical M&A Certification Exam
“MADEX — M&A Deal Expert” is a professional M&A certification exam built around the decisions and deliverables required across a real transaction.
It develops the knowledge, financial judgment, and execution discipline required to analyse a deal, make defensible decisions, and produce decision-ready outputs.
The certification covers the connected capabilities that shape an acquisition:
- M&A Strategy and target selection
- Due diligence and valuation
- Acquisition financing and LBO structuring
- Negotiation and SPA protection
- PMI and value creation
Build AI-Augmented Deal Capability
Our M&A certification exam program, MADEX, prepares you to use AI as a transaction accelerator across M&A and valuation work — extracting information, structuring analysis, testing assumptions, reviewing formulas, and sharpening recommendations.
You learn where AI can increase speed and analytical depth across diligence, forecasting, valuation, financing, negotiation, and decision-making — while retaining independent verification and professional judgment over every conclusion.
From Knowledge to Demonstrated Deal Capability
MADEX turns structured learning into evidence of what you can actually do.
Candidates apply M&A frameworks, financial analysis, transaction logic, and professional judgment to one integrated deal assessment rather than simply demonstrating theoretical knowledge.
The result is an mergers and acquisitions certification course pathway that develops capability and then verifies it through practical application — giving the MADEX credential a clear professional meaning:
"You have demonstrated the judgment required to work through an M&A transaction."
MADEX Exam Structure
The MADEX M&A certification exam consists of three timed assessments built around one integrated transaction.
M&A Certification Exam
Included in this exam-only purchase
- Covers 3 timed assessment steps across 1. M&A strategy and due diligence, 2, financing and LBO analysys, 3. negotiation, SPA, and PMI strategies.
- Allows each step to be completed separately at any time within the 14-month certification access period.
- Awards MADEX when candidates achieve an overall score of 70/100 or higher across all steps.
M&A Full Course
Not included — part of the exam bundle
- Covers nine M&A stages from strategy and sourcing through diligence, financing, negotiation, SPA, and PMI.
- Builds practical deal judgment through 179 lessons, 500+ modules, case studies, templates, and Excel models.
- Provides the core knowledge directly assessed across all three stages of the MADEX certification examination.
Valuation Course
Not included — part of the exam bundle
- Covers financial analysis, 3-statement modeling, DCF, CCA, and professional valuation reporting skills.
- 271 learning modules across 105 lessons in 7 topics covering the full valuation workflow.
- Supports MADEX preparation while certification questions remain drawn directly from the M&A Full Course curriculum.
MADEX Assessment
| Assessment | Weight | Time | What You Demonstrate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 — Strategy, Deal Sourcing & Due Diligence | 30% | 2 hours | Acquisition logic, target approach, diligence judgment and required actions |
| Step 2 — Acquisition Financing & LBO Structuring | 30% | 2 hours | Capital structure, financing diagnosis, mezzanine structuring and investor returns |
| Step 3 — Negotiation, SPA & PMI Planning | 40% | 2 hours | Risk allocation, contractual protection and value-creation execution |
Recommended 14-Month Study Route
Recommended for candidates who purchase the MADEX Certification Bundle.
| Period | Study | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Months 1–4 | M&A Full Course — Steps 1–5 | Process → Strategy → Sourcing → Desktop DD → Full DD |
| Months 5–8 | Financial Modeling & Valuation Course | Financial statements → 3-statement modeling → WACC → DCF → CCA → valuation reporting |
| Month 9–10 | M&A Full Course — Step 6 | Acquisition financing, capital structure, LBO modeling, debt repayment, IRR |
| Month 11–13 | M&A Full Course — Steps 7–9 | Negotiation → SPA → PMI & Value Creation |
| Months 14 | MADEX Exam | Complete all three practical assessments |
3 Steps to Mergers and Acquisitions Certification
Course Content
M&A Course Curriculum
Course Content
Valuation Course Curriculum
Course Content
See the Whole Transaction
Carry one decision through an entire transaction, and see how an early strategy choice shapes financing and negotiation later.
Build Acquisition Strategy
Translate growth objectives into acquisition themes, target criteria, and deal logic, then determine where M&A creates a defensible advantage.
Turn Diligence into Action
Identify material findings across diligence workstreams, assess their transaction impact, and convert each issue into a specific required action
Structure Acquisition Financing
Assess debt capacity, structure mezzanine instruments, and calculate investor returns, using the same financial logic that drives a real LBO.
Negotiate and Protect Value
Convert diligence findings into negotiation leverage, then translate the agreed protections into indemnities, escrows, and enforceable closing conditions.
Deliver Post-Deal Value
Translate the investment thesis into PMI priorities, functional actions, KPIs, and phased execution plans designed to capture revenue, synergies, and strategic value.
Turn Deal Capability into a Credential
MADEX turns assessed transaction capability into a verifiable mergers and acquisitions certification you can present across your professional career.
- Add MADEX to your CV and LinkedIn as evidence of assessed M&A capability.
- Demonstrate capability across strategy, diligence, financing, negotiation, SPA, and PMI.
- Strengthen your profile for M&A, corporate development, advisory, investment, and transaction roles.
- Show your assessed strengths through an individual Professional Competency Statement.
Credential Awarded
- MADEX — M&A Deal Expert
- Certified by M&A Institute
Successful Candidates Receive
- MADEX Certificate
- Credential ID
- Credential Verification URL
- Professional Competency Statement
- LinkedIn Credential Guidance
Download the Detailed MADEX Certification Guide
Who Built MADEX?
Built by M&A practitioners who understand how transactions are actually executed.
The MADEX M&A certification exam was developed by the M&A Institute team, drawing on extensive experience across cross-border M&A, private equity, corporate development, IPOs, and acquisition financing.
The program translates real transaction practice into structured learning, applied analysis, and decision-making frameworks designed for professional use.
Built on Practical Deal Experience
● Developed from experience across cross-border M&A, private equity, corporate acquisitions, IPOs, and mezzanine financing.
● Uses practical frameworks, templates, financial models, and decision tools applied throughout the M&A process.
● Informed by professionals across corporate strategy, corporate finance, investment banking, private equity, and research functions.
● Backed by more than 200 corporate training engagements delivered to over 8,000 professionals.
MADEX connects practitioner experience with the structured rigor expected from a professional M&A certificate course.
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