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CM&AA Certification - Course Details, Fees, Eligibility, Syllabus
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  • CM&AA Certification - Course Details, Fees, Eligibility, Syllabus

CM&AA Certification - Course Details, Fees, Eligibility, Syllabus

Team Careers360Updated on 03 Oct 2023, 02:45 PM IST

CM&AA Certification - The Alliance of Merger and Acquisition Advisors, or AM&AA, offers one of the best merger and acquisition courses online for individuals who want to advance their career in the M&A domain. The course is also delivered in offline mode. The program offered is the Certified Merger and Acquisition Advisor or CM&AA certification and is a standard of professional excellence for professionals working in corporate finance, transaction and advisory services. The CM&AA certification is awarded at the culmination of the 5 week mergers and acquisitions training course offered by AM&AA which is a short-term intensive program. For candidates who participate in the merger and acquisition certification program for CM&AA certification, the final exam is optional and the certificate is awarded regardless to candidates who successfully complete the program.

This Story also Contains

  1. Mergers and Acquisitions Training Course Eligibility
  2. Mergers and Acquisitions Training Course Dates
  3. Mergers and Acquisitions Training Course Topics
  4. CM&AA Certification Syllabus
  5. CM&AA Certification Membership
  6. Mergers and Acquisitions Training Course Study Resources
  7. CM&AA Certification Exam
  8. CM&AA Certification Maintenance
CM&AA Certification - Course Details, Fees, Eligibility, Syllabus
CM&AA Certification

Mergers and Acquisitions Training Course Eligibility


In order to participate in the CM&AA certification program offered by AM&AA, candidates are required to be members of the Alliance of Merger and Acquisition Advisors. Candidates therefore must either be AM&AA members or must acquire one-year CM&AA certification membership to the AM&AA in order to be eligible for the program.

The aspirants must hold a degree (graduation/post graduation) and/or professional degrees such as CFA, CPA, CVGA or equivalent. Candidates who have professional experience in advisory domain will also be considered.


Mergers and Acquisitions Training Course Dates


The mergers and acquisitions training course for CM&AA certification is a 5-week program and is available online and also in offline mode. Candidate can register for the course by visiting amaaonline.com/cmaa. Interested candidates can take the upcoming 5-week course from October 17-November 16, 2023 to become a certified merger and acquisition specialist.

Certified Merger and Acquisition Advisor Certification Dates

ParticularsProgram Dates
Upcoming CM&AA courseOctober 17-November 16, 2023


Mergers and Acquisitions Training Course Topics

The CM&AA certification offered by AM&AA covers a number of topics associated with the mergers and acquisitions advisory domain. These topics are covered in detail across the duration of the program, provided participating candidates with the knowledge to excel in the field. The course topics to be covered according to the Certified Merger and Acquisition Advisor certification are:

  • Private Capital Markets

  • M& A Sales Process

  • Strategic Buyer Process

  • Financing: Acquisitions & Exits

  • Business Valuation for M&A

  • Financial Analysis, Transaction Structuring, and Relationship to Transaction Pricing

  • Due Diligence in M&A

  • M&A Tax Considerations

  • M&A Legal Issues

  • Investment Banking Structuring Techniques


The detailed topics within the broad subject areas mentioned above have also been specified by AM&AA. These constitute the syllabus for the mergers and acquisitions training course for CM&AA certification.

CM&AA Certification Syllabus


Subject Area

Topics

Private Market

  • Define and understand the Private Capital Markets and how those differ from the public markets
  • Current trends in the private capital marketplace (such as valuation statistics, private equity fundraising, acquisition strategies, transaction volume, etc.)
  • The connection between sources of capital, transfer methods, and valuation for privately held businesses
  • How to apply these theories when offering advisory services to privately held businesses

M&A Sales Process

  • Best practices and methods for private capital transactions
  • Identify deal opportunities with middle market companies
  • 10 steps to transaction completion
  • M&A practice management considerations

Strategic Buyer Process

  • Reasons buyers deploy “Growth by Acquisition” strategy
  • Logical process and considerations used in strategic buying decisions
  • Weaving growth strategy into the acquisition and integration processes
  • Insights into cultivating and fostering relationships with the right targets
  • Technology and tools leveraged by high performing buy-side groups and functions

Financing: Acquisitions & Exits


-

Business Valuation for M&A

  • Define and understand the valuation standards applicable for various purposes
  • Understand how the subject of the valuation should impact the approach to valuation
  • Identify factors that impact pricing in an M&A transaction and how they are considered in a valuation
  • Understanding the M&A/valuation balance sheet and enterprise value
  • Understand the steps in the valuation process
  • Understand the approaches to valuation, methods, and typical application - Cost/Asset approach, Income approach, Market approach.

Financial Analysis, Transaction Structuring, and Relationship to Transaction Pricing


-

Due Diligence in M&A

  • Key insights into the Sellers journey and deal timeline
  • Understanding Financial Due Diligence with a focus on Quality of Earnings, Debt and Debt-like items and Working Capital
  • Understand the components of a Purchase and Sale Agreement (PSA), its key terms and purchase price adjustment mechanisms

M&A Tax Considerations

-

M&A Legal Issues

Who is the Client?

  • Pick one party and only one (buyer; seller; corporate entity; investor)

Seller Counsel Focus/Buyer Counsel Focus

  • Drafting NDA (seller counsel)
  • Compiling/updating client's organizational documents, key legal materials (seller counsel)
  • Negotiating terms with opposing counsel, other parties to transaction (seller & buyer counsel)
  • Drafting deal documents (buyer counsel)
  • Review/revision of deal documents (seller counsel)
  • Handling closing (and post closing) matters (seller & buyer counsel)

Key Documents of Transaction

  • Non-Disclosure Agreement
  • Letter of Intent
  • Purchase/Sale Agreement
  • Ancillary Agreements (Employment; Non-Compete; Buy Back Option; Seller Finance Docs)

Due Diligence

  • Assist seller client in due diligence preparations, efforts (seller counsel)
  • Assist set up of data room, providing relevant materials per requests (seller counsel)
  • Participate in due diligence efforts as part of buyer team (buyer counsel)
  • Negotiate deal term revisions or additional deal terms per due diligence results (seller & buyer counsel)

Emerging Trends

  • Use of rep/warranty, cyber risks, employment liability insurance
  • When does insurance make sense in deal
  • Does insurance replace escrow holdbacks; who pays
  • Involvement of IT, Insurance, HR participants as much as traditional legal, tax, accounting resources

Investment Banking Structuring Techniques

-

CM&AA Certification Membership

In order to participate in the mergers and acquisitions training course for Certified Merger and Acquisition Advisor certification, candidates must have AM&AA membership. The membership options vary with duration and can be renewed as per the candidate’s requirement. However, recertification for the CM&AA certification does not require candidates to renew their AM&AA membership status.


Certified Merger and Acquisition Advisor Certification Cost

Online CM&AA CoursesIn-Person CM&AA Courses
Standard Member Price$ 2150Standard Member Price$ 4950
Standard Bundle Price$ 2750Standard Bundle Price$ 5495



Type of membership

Membership details

Membership price

Individual membership

One year AM&AA membership

$ 545

CM&AA 5-week program and membership

One year AM&AA membership

CM&AA certification program fee

$ 5,200

CM&AA membership renewal

One year renewal of CM&AA membership

$595


Mergers and Acquisitions Training Course Study Resources

Prospective candidates for the Certified Merger and Acquisition Advisor certification program will be provided with study material for the duration of the merger and acquisition certification program. Apart from this study material, the AM&AA has also mentioned a number of study resources and reference books that the candidate may need to obtain in order to succeed in the CM&AA certification program. There are four textbooks which will not be provided by AM&AA and therefore need to be obtained by the candidate. The approximate value of these books has been listed around USD $350.


CM&AA Certification Textbooks

Title

Author

Middle Market M&A Handbook

Robert Slee, Christian Blees, Kenneth H. Marks, Michael Nall

Private Capital Markets, 2nd Edition

Rob Slee

The Handbook of Financing Growth, 2nd Edition

Kenneth H. Marks

Valuation for M&A: Building Value in Private Companies, 2nd or 3rd Edition

Chris M. Mellen and Frank C. Evans

CM&AA Certification Exam

The CM&AA certification exam occurs on the last day of the merger and acquisition certification program offered by AM&AA. This is a 4-hour online test which is optional in nature. This means that the exam is not a requisite in order to obtain Certified Merger and Acquisition Advisor status. The exam is only to test the candidate’s retention of the subject matter taught throughout the mergers and acquisitions training course and the result is solely for personal use as it is not required by any prospective employer or recruiter.

CM&AA Certification Maintenance


Earning the Certified Merger and Acquisition Advisor credential requires candidates to be AM&AA members and participate in continuing professional education or CPE activities which are necessary in order to maintain the alliance of merger and acquisition advisors certification status. The steps that candidates need to follow in order to maintain their CM&AA certification are:

  • Candidates must maintain their AM&AA membership and complete the required recertification and compliance report.

  • Candidates must pay the annual CM&AA certification continuation fee of USD $50. This will be billed along with the annual membership charges.

  • Candidates must earn at least 12 CPE credits annual through approved educational experiences and activities.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the best degree for M&A?
A:

There are many education options one can go for to develop an understanding of M&A. The CM&AA certification by AMA and professional courses such as CPA, CFA, CA, and MBA are some of the degrees one can opt to study.

Q: How do I get Cm&AA?
A:

One can register online or attend in person course conducted by Alliance of Merger and Acquisition Advisors after meeting the prescribed eligibility criteria.

Q: What is a CM&AA designation?
A:

CM &AA is an advanced certification oferred by the Alliance of Merger and Acquisition in middle market corporate finance, advisory, and transaction service.

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