ACG University is the single best networking/educational initiative in our region. An exclusive, in-depth deal education and networking program, ACG University enrolls 40 up and coming M&A dealmakers who possess an average of 3 - 6 years of deal experience in this serial education program.
ACGU Goals: This in-depth 7-part program is designed to:
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Teach a broad range of essential deal making skills and strategies through lecture and hands-on case work to create savvy, knowledgeable and skilled dealmakers.
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Create cohorts to facilitate long-term deal networks among future M&A leaders. Each class is composed of private equity and corporate buyers, investment bankers, attorneys, accountants and lenders.
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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, financing, negotiating, structuring and closing a deal. Each class will include pre-reading, expert level instruction, practitioner panel discussions, team-based case work/presentation of findings and feedback. ACG University is composed of seven classes, meeting roughly every two - three weeks on Friday mornings from 7:30am - 12:00pm starting in January at the offices of Drinker Biddle in center city Philadelphia. *Please note that the ACGU 2021 start date is at this time TBD due to Covid-19 restrictions.
ACGU APPLICATION PROCESS:
Currently the application process for ACG University 2021 is on hold. Please fill out this interest form to be added to the mailing list for when we start taking applications.
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 overall composition of the applicant pool. Please email Bretany Pilko at bpilko@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 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 reference from senior people at 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 do consider applying. For purposes of class dynamics and maintaining consistency in the class, professionals with longer experience focused on the M&A space are over-qualified for this type of program.
ACGU Pricing
Pricing is $1295 per person and includes seven classes, three networking events as well as a two-year membership in ACG (payment will be due upon acceptance, there is no fee to apply).
ACGU 2020 Class Dates & Details:
ACG University meets on Friday mornings from 7:30am - 12:00pm starting in January at the offices of Faegre Drinker in center city Philadelphia.
2020 DATES:
Friday, January 31, 2020 - Program 7.30 AM - 12.00 Noon
Friday, February 7, 2020 - Program 7.30 AM - 12.00 Noon
Friday, February 21, 2020 - Program 7.30 AM - 12.00 Noon
Friday, March 6, 2020 - Program 7.30 AM - 12.00 Noon
Friday, October 9, 2020 - Program 8 AM - 12.00 Noon - postponed due to Covid-19 restrictions
Friday, October 30, 2020 - Program 8 AM - 12.00 Noon - postponed due to Covid-19 restrictions
Friday, November 13, 2020 - Program8 AM - 12:00 Noon - postponed due to Covid-19 restrictions
- Class 1: Strategic / Opportunity Analysis – Sourcing Deals & Building Your Acquisition Strategy
- Class 2: Due Diligence - Financial, Operational, Technical, Management
- Class 3: Valuation - Methodologies and Approaches
- Class 4: Acquisition/Debt Financing – Financing your deal to match your exit
- Class 5: Negotiating the Purchase Agreement & Closing the Transaction
- Class 6: The 100 Day Plan & Why Deals Fail
- Class 7: Exit Strategies
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.
Past graduates rate this program very highly for both its practical educational content and its valuable network building.
