Library

The key differences between private equity M&A and strategic M&A, including investment goals, sources of funding, deal complexity, management retention, and break-up fees.

An overview of the commercial banking industry, including the services usually offered through banks' retail, business, and corporate divisions. The course also discusses how commercial banks earn revenue and competition in the industry.

The fundamentals of UK M&A transactions, covering deal structures, transaction processes, core documents, and the commercial factors that shape deal execution. The course focuses on private deals but also gives an overview of public takeovers to highlight key differences.

An introduction to balance sheets, including an explanation of the balance sheet equation and descriptions of assets, liabilities and shareholders’ equity.

How to write a brief persuasively, including achieving the right tone, style, and language. Also includes how to present your facts effectively and target your audience.

How to prepare for direct examination of a fact witness, so you can go into your prep session with a trial-ready outline. Includes how to cover affirmative points that you need to get in through the witness, how to neutralize negative points you expect on cross, how and when to use exhibits, and how to think about redirect. (Prepping the witness is covered in a different course.)

The basics of due diligence and closings in M&A deals. Includes an overview of the diligence process, tips for conducting due diligence, the closing process, the differences between simultaneous and delayed closings, and guidance on drafting key closing documents.

Explains key legal, business, and drafting issues for the most common terms and provisions that appear in day-to-day commercial agreements. This track covers force majeure, indemnification, limitation of liability, notice, publicity, reps & warranties, schedules and exhibits, severability, survival, and term and termination provisions.

Explains key concepts in financial reporting and accounting, such as accrual accounting, revenue recognition, and depreciation and amortization. This track also covers the roles in a finance department; the processes of accounting, financial reporting, and audits; and how to analyze a company’s annual report and financials.

This track explores how private equity deals are financed, how management incentives are structured, and the strategies funds use to create value.

Covers due diligence for venture finance deals and the main economic and control rights negotiated in venture finance term sheets, plus how to make key calculations such as cap tables, pro forma cap tables, prices per share, pro rata rights, note conversions, dividends, and liquidation preferences.

An introduction to the main deal documents in a securities offering and the role, scope and process of conducting due diligence for various types of securities offerings.