ACG University

 

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Class Photo 2023

 

ACG University is the single best networking & educational initiative for deal professionals in our region, enrolling 40 up-and-coming M&A dealmakers each year who possess an average of 3 - 6 years of deal experience. This executive education style program immerses emerging deal professionals in a 7-course program spanning the life cycle of a deal from sourcing to exits.  

ACGU Goals: This in-depth 7-part program is designed to:

  • Teach a broad range of essential deal-making skills and strategies through lectures and hands-on casework to create savvy, knowledgeable, and skilled dealmakers.

  • Create cohorts to facilitate long-term deal networks among future M&A leaders. Each class is composed of private equity and strategic buyers, investment bankers, attorneys, accountants, and lenders.

  • Offer access to all the resources of ACG and the broader deal community in Philadelphia through membership (included). Graduates will also be invited to be part of ACG Philadelphia Young Dealmakers.
     

About the Course Work
ACG University will immerse participants into the life cycle of a deal using a case study method for teaching the key elements of sourcing, valuing, diligence, financing, negotiating, structuring/closing, integrating, and exiting a deal. Each class includes pre-reading, expert-level instruction, practitioner panel discussions, team-based casework/presentation of findings, and feedback. ACG University is composed of seven classes, meeting roughly every two-three weeks on Friday mornings from 8:00 am - 12:30 pm at the center city offices of Faegre Drinker.  Applications for ACGU 2024 will start to be accepted in August 2023.
 
ACGU APPLICATION PROCESS: Please click HERE to fill out a survey for your application to 2024 ACGU. It will prompt you to upload your resume.
 

Space for ACG University is limited. Candidates must be sponsored by an ACG Member. Selection will be based on prior experience, commitment, as well as the overall composition of the applicant pool. Applications for ACGU '24 will be accepted starting in August 2023. Please email ACG Philadelphia at acgphiladelphia@acg.org with any questions.

 

APPLICANT GUIDANCE BY FUNCTION:

Accountants: 3 to 4 years of Transaction Advisory Services experience (and currently in a TAS Practice) or alternatively M&A Tax.  M&A tax in most firms is not under the “TAS” umbrella.  

Attorneys: should have a reasonable base of varied deal knowledge in addition to a growing legal skill set.  For this reason, strong attorney applicants typically have 4-6 years of experience and are not yet at the partner-level or counsel-level discussions.

Investment Bankers: For those who made the transition into banking (from another discipline that may not be M&A related): 2 years of M&A experience is requested. For those that started investment banking right out of college: 2-3 years, depending on references from senior people at the firm. 

Others: If you are a professional whose work has regularly touched on or supported mergers and acquisitions over the past 4-6 years (rather than your work relating to those individuals who themselves do M&A work), please consider applying.  For purposes of class dynamics and maintaining consistency in the class, professionals with longer experience focused on the M&A space are overqualified for this type of program.

 

ACGU Pricing

Pricing is $1,495 per accepted applicant and includes seven classes, several networking events as well as a one-year membership in ACG (payment will be due upon acceptance, there is no fee to apply). 

 

Cancellation / Attendance 

Enrollment in ACG University includes program participation for admitted year, plus a one-year membership and is non-refundable. In the case that the:

Incoming admitted student moves to new firm before the ACGU program -> if the student paid the enrollment fee themselves, then they are welcome to start ACGU as scheduled. If their firm paid for their enrollment and this is before the first class, the firm is welcome to replace the student, however, that student must be reviewed and admitted by the ACGU review team. The new candidate must be a good fit for the class experience-wise. We can not accommodate any changes after classes have started.

Attendance Expectations:

  • To benefit from the experience, we do expect all students to be engaged with fellow classmates at all 7 sessions of ACG University (although recognizing deal demands, we do allow for one absence.) 
  • During each class, you will be paired up with new teammates, representing deal functions different than your own.  Together, you'll work on case studies and learn from senior-level dealmakers.  
  • As demand has grown, the selection process has become more competitive. We do use historical firm attendance as one of several metrics in candidate selection, so your engagement will factor into a selection from your firm moving forward. 
  • Become an active member of the broader ACG community - you are our future leaders. We have ACGU alumni serving on our Board of Directors as well as alumni sitting on most of our committees. 

 

ACGU 2024 Class Dates & Details:

ACG University meets on Friday mornings from 8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at the offices of Faegre Drinker in Center City Philadelphia.  

2024 DATES:

  • Class 1, DealSourcing: Friday, February 2nd, 2024
  • Class 2, Due Diligence: Friday, February 9th, 2024
  • Class 3, Valuation: Friday, February 23rd, 2024 
  • Class 4, LBO Financing: Friday, March 15th, 2024
  • Class 5, Purchase Agreement Negotiations: Friday, April 5th, 2024
  • Class 6, Integration: Friday, April 19th, 2024
  • Class 7, Exit Strategies: Friday, May 3rd, 2024

 

 
 
 
Pennsylvania CPE and CLE Credits are available for the class. Students will receive the required documentation at the completion of the class. To receive full credits, please make sure to sign in to each class. Further requirement and prerequisite information can be requested and is particularly useful for those seeking the offered CPE or CLE credits of this course. ACG University runs once per year from January through April.

Past graduates rate this program very highly for both its practical educational content and its valuable network building.

 
View Past Class Attendees on our Alumni Page.
 

Thank you to our ACG University Sponsors

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Faegre Drinker
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RSM US LLP