Facilitator Guide

UK M&A Deal Process

Facilitator Guide

UK M&A Deal Process

Topic: M&A Basics (UK)

What’s covered

Bilateral vs. auction processes
Preliminary steps
Due diligence
Documentation
Signing, completion, and post-completion

Before the session

Prepare the Attendees

Send the attendees an invitation for the session. Include this link, which has the videos and exercise they’ll need to prepare.

https://www.hotshotlegal.com/trainings/uk-m-a-deal-process/attendee

Prepare Yourself

Watch the videos and read the exercise so you’re familiar with the Hotshot material.

Course

UK M&A Deal Process

The key stages of the deal process for bilateral and auction sale deals, from the initial kick-off through post-completion.
Exercise
PDF

During the session

Part 1: Knowledge Check

Ask attendees these questions to ensure they understand the topic:

What are the two main ways that buyers and sellers come together in private M&A deals and what are the primary differences?
What are some preliminary steps that take place in a bilateral private M&A deal?
What’s an exclusivity agreement and how does it protect the buyer?
What are the key transaction documents in a private M&A deal?
What are some ways the DD process differs between bilateral deals and auction sales?
What are change of control provisions and why is identifying them during due diligence critical?
What is vendor due diligence and why do sellers conduct it in auction processes?
How does a split signing and completion work, and what needs to happen between signing and completion?
When in the deal timeline do the parties try to determine whether regulatory clearances might be required?
What are the main tasks that typically need to be completed in the post-completion phase?

Part 2: Group Exercise

Lead a group discussion based on the exercise. To encourage collaboration, divide the attendees into groups to discuss the exercise, then have a representative from each group summarize their views to the larger group. Call on people to share their thoughts and ask others to respond.

Tip for remote sessions: use your web conferencing system’s breakout room feature to divide people into groups.

Part 3: War Stories and Firm Specifics

Share your own experiences and guidance, including:

Anecdotes and war stories (e.g., about a near-disaster or a tough negotiation)
General practice tips (dos and don’ts)
Firm-specific guidance and practices

After the session

To continue their learning, attendees can check out related courses in Hotshot’s M&A Basics (UK) topic.

About Hotshot

Hotshot helps lawyers develop their legal, business, and technology skills through short videos, quizzes, and summaries, and we help law firms and law schools plan and deliver engaging training programs. Our customers include Am Law 200 firms, top law schools, and regional and international firms.