ACG University

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 lecture and hands-on case work 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.

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. Applications for ACGU '23 will be accepted starting in August 2022. Please email Bretany Pilko at bpilko@acg.org with any questions.

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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 $1450 per person and includes seven classes, several networking events as well as a two-year membership in ACG (payment will be due upon acceptance, there is no fee to apply).

Cancellation / Attendance / Covid Policy -

Enrollment in ACG University includes a two year membership and is non-refundable. In the case that the:

Incoming admitted student moves to new firm before ACGU program starts -> if 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 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 accomodate any changes after classes have started.

Covid:

If a student gets Covid: just as any sickness, you may miss a class.  We record and share them allowing you to stay current. 

If ACG Philadelphia can not host in person due to a Covid resurgence: In the event of resurgence where we are unable to gather safely, we will revert to virtual classes until such time that we can gather safely again.

Attendence 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 selection from your firm moving forward. 
• Attendance is also used in determining CLE and CPE credits, which are available to you at the end of class.
• 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 alumni sitting on most of our committees. 

ACGU 2022 Class Dates & Details:

ACG University meets on Friday mornings from 7:30am - 12:00pm at the offices of Faegre Drinker in center city Philadelphia. 

2022 DATES:

• March 4 - Class 1: Strategic / Opportunity Analysis – Sourcing Deals & Building Your Acquisition Strategy
• March 18 - Class 2: Due Diligence - Financial, Operational, Technical, Management
• March 25 - Class 3: Valuation - Methodologies and Approaches
• April 8 - Class 4: Acquisition/Debt Financing – Financing your deal to match your exit
• April 29 - Class 5: Negotiating the Purchase Agreement & Closing the Transaction
• May 6 - Class 6: The 100 Day Plan & Why Deals Fail
• May 13 - Class 7: Exit Strategies

View Past Class Attendees on our Alumni Page.
 

Thank you to our ACG University Sponsors

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