About us

More than a decade of global activity and excellence in M&A Education & Research

The Institute for Mergers, Acquisitions and Alliances (IMAA) is a not-for-profit think tank for Mergers & Acquisitions which pursues research and provides educational certificate programs, workshops, resources, and expert knowledge in the field of M&A. Founded in 2004, the Institute consists of respected faculty and trainers from around the world who contribute to the research, resource content, and programs. As the leading academic institution for M&A and a globally active institute, our programs offer a wealth of experience and know-how and are the most substantial and complete educational offering in existence. Our M&A certificate programs are the only internationally broadly recognized education programs and its content is relevant to both developed countries and emerging markets. IMAA participants and institute members represent over 70 countries, including students and junior professionals to board level executives and government officials. We are committed to providing excellence in M&A education and research, and are dedicated to making mergers, acquisitions and alliances beneficial for businesses and our participants succeed with their projects and careers.

Key Facts

Established in 2004
International Presence
Unique Combination of Academics and Practitioners

Global Faculty and Experts from the Field
Know-how in Developed and Emerging Markets
Leading Academic Institution for M&A

Our Vision

We contribute to making Mergers & Acquisitions and Strategic Alliances a success.

Our Mission

The Institute for Mergers, Acquisitions and Alliances (IMAA) provides and advances knowledge and insights to improve the use and benefits of mergers & acquisitions (M&A) and strategic alliances. Our mission is to:

Research: design, conduct, and disseminate high-quality, avant-garde, and innovative basic and applied research
Education: create, provide and offer educational opportunities for professionals, students and the interested public
Resources: collect, maintain and provide specialized resources and information

Collaboration: collaborate with academic, government and industry partners
International Forum: provide an international forum devoted to the dialogue of business, politics, society, and science
Integrator: act as an integrator of different stakeholders in the business community and interdisciplinary science

M&A TRAININGS FOR ALL LEVELS

Our Institute offer trainings and M&A courses for all career levels:

Executives

Many owners, c-level executives and other leaders in their organization attend our M&A trainings, certification programs, and coachings to prepare for transactions, initial public offerings, and for many more reasons.

Professionals

Many of our M&A certificate programs are taken by young and experienced professionals from junior to partner level from advisory, chartered accountants, consulting, investment banking, legal advice, tax accountants, but also from staff from corporate development, M&A, finance functions, etc.

Students

Our faculty members teach in various institutions worldwide and provide their insights and expertise in M&A courses, entrepreneurial finance, etc. for students at undergraduate and graduate levels. We also collaborate with many professors and share materials, information and best-practice.

ACCREDITATION AND RECOGNITION

We provide premier quality continuing education for professionals and organizations across the globe. We have been granted the ISO certification by TUEV Austria for ISO Norm 9001 Quality Management Systems, ISO Norm 21001 Educational organizations, and ISO Norm 29990 Learning services for non-formal education and training (please see Certificate).

In addition to our own accreditations and recognition, our faculty teaches, our content is used at and we cooperate with many top ranking business schools that are triple accredited with the highest standards in the educational sector: AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS. But as we do not provide academic degree programs, these accrediting institutions are not applicable for our Institute. Still we have joined the AACSB as a business education alliance member to promote the cooperation between business schools and businesses.

The Institute and our faculty members are mentioned in over 300 appearances in the media (TV, radio and newspapers) such as Bloomberg, CNN, Dow Jones News, Financial Times, The New York Times, Thomson Reuters, and The Wall Street Journal.

Governments and non-governmental organizations seek our advice and information, like the Bank of England, the Dubai Economic Council, the Government of Canada, Enterprise Singapore, the parliament of Germany, various embassies around the world, and ministries in the United States as well as the US Chambers of Commerce for example, turn to us for insights and rely on our support.

We provide you with a substantial collection of testimonials and a selected reference list of companies, please refer to our testimonials page.

We and our programs are also recognized or accepted by other high quality institutions as a continued education provider for continuing professional development (CPD) and continuing professional education (CPE). Please find more information in the selection below:

Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), established in 1909, has the mission to be a global leader in the profession by providing opportunity and open access to people of ability wherever they are in the world, supporting and promoting the highest ethical, governance and professional standards, and advancing the public interest. They have more than 208,000 fully qualified members and 503,000 students worldwide. ACCA does not only accept our programs and trainings as Continued Education, but has formally signed a cooperation agreement with the Institute for Mergers, Acquisitions and Alliances.

American Institute of CPAs

The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), established in 1887, sets standards in a wide area of practices including business, industry, public practice, government, education and consulting. With more than 418’000 members in 143 different countries, the AICPA is the world’s largest member association representing accounting professionals. IMAA programs and M&A courses qualify to count towards the mandatory continued education requirements for AICPA’s charterholders.

Australia CPA

CPA Australia is one of the largest accounting organizations in the world with a membership of more than 155’000 members working internationally in 118 counties across the globe. Over 25’000 members have senior leadership positions. The Institute for Mergers, Acquisitions and Alliances certificate programs and M&A trainings are accepted as continued education for CPA Australia Charterholders.

Canadian Securities Institute (CSI)

The Canadian Securities Institute (CSI) has been setting the standard for excellence in lifelong education for financial professionals for more than 45 years. Their designations such as the PFP, CIM, CIWM, and MTI have CE requirements, and the designation holder is responsible to assess the CE value of a non-CSI activity. Hence, our M&A workshops and trainings including certification programs are accepted as to fulfil the continued education requirements for CSI’s designations.

CPA Canada

Chartered Professional Accountants Canada (CPA Canada) is a national organization established to support a unified Canadian accounting profession. The organization is devoted to promoting the highest standards, ethics and best business practices. The M&A workshops and trainings including certification programs by IMAA are accepted as to fulfil the continued education requirements for Canada’s CPAs.

CPA Ireland

The Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Ireland (CPA Ireland) consists of more than 5’000 members and students in over 40 countries. The institution is responsible for overseeing the professional activities of charterholders in practice, and ensuring that education and training standards are maintained. IMAA’s M&A certificates and M&A courses can be accepted as structured continued professional developlment (CPD) for CPAs of Ireland.

CFA Institute

The CFA Institute is a global association of investment professionals which provides the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. The CFA Institute requires every CFA holder to participate in continuing education (CE) programs on a yearly basis. Through a rigorous application process, the CFA Institute recognizes only the top educational providers for CFA professionals to complete their CE requirements with. Some of IMAA’s educational offerings are accepted as CE credits with the CFA Institute.

City of Vienna

The branch of the Institute for Mergers, Acquisitions and Alliances (IMAA) in Vienna is recognized and listed as a research institute by the Government of the City of Vienna, Austria. See our profile at the City of Vienna.

Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants

Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA), established in 1973´, is the only institution authorized by law to register and grant practicing certificates to CPAs in Hong Kong. The organization has more than 39’000 members and more than 18’000 registered students. M&A certificates and trainings offered by the Institute can be accepted as continued education for HKICPA charterholders.

Institute of Certified Public Accountants India

The Institute of Certified Public Accountantsin India with more than 147’000 members is a body of professionals practicing in the discipline of Accounting, Auditing, Taxation & Business Regulatory Laws, Finance & Management. IMAA’s programs meet the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements.

Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales(ICAEW) consists of over 147’000 members and provides professional development opportunities, resources, and guidance for ICAEW Chartered Accountants. IMAA’s M&A trainings and certificates can be accepted as Continued Education for ICAEW Charterholders.

Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA)

The Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) is the national accountancy body of Singapore with over 32’000 members. IMAA’s trainings and M&A certificates qualify structured and verifiable Continuing Professional Education (CPE).

National Registry of CPE Sponsors for CPAs

The Institute for Mergers, Acquisitions and Alliances (IMAA) is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.NASBARegistry.org. IMAA’s Registry Sponsor ID: 139759

Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)

The Institute for Mergers, Acquisitions and Alliances (IMAA) is recognized bythe Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) as a continued professional education provider. View our programs at SHRM’s website

Singapore: Institute for Banking & Finance

The Institute for Mergers, Acquisitions and Alliances (IMAA) has been approved as an organization by the Institute for Banking & Finance in Singapore. Some of our programs and formats have been accredited and qualify participants to receive funding for attending and participating in our trainings. View our accredited programs at IBF Singapore

United Nations

The United Nations are a intergovernmental organization. The Institute for Mergers, Acquisitions and Alliances is a registered NGO in the field of Academia at the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations. We can visit United Nations conferences and meetings open for civil society participation in the area of economic and social development. You will find us listed in the integrated Civil Society Organizations (iCSO) System.

Cooperations

companies as corporate partners,
governments,
international organizations,
universities and training providers.

Below we list a selection of organizations that we collaborate with or contributed to with our know how and expertise. We maintain good formal and informal relationships with many other organizations.

We are a business education alliance member of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) – a global business education network and association. Many of our academic faculty members teach at AACSB accredited top business schools.

We cooperate with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and offer their certified accountants opportunities for continued education.

We are a member of the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) headquartered in Chicago and are part of their chapter in Austria. ACG is a global community for middle-market M&A deal-makers and business leaders. Our trainings are endorsed by some ACG chapters.

We cooperate with PwC Academy in Sri Lanka and with PwC in many other locations, for example in our IM&A program in Dubai.

BIZIT Inc. was established in August 2019 by spinning out from Tryfunds Inc. It operates the largest global M&A platform in Japan "BIZIT M&A", which is used by approximately 5,200 users in 158 countries around the world and supports the overseas expansion and M&A of Japanese SMEs.”

Some of our trainings are endorsed by and of interest to members of the German Federal Association of Private Equity Companies.

We are a member of the German Federal Association for Mergers & Acquisitions and involve some of their board members and corporate members as faculty.

Frequently our trainings get endorsed by various CFA Societies in different countries and are attended by CFA Charterholders for continued education.

We collaborate with and support the Controller Institut with their M&A training in German (“M&A Lehrgang“) in Vienna.

We are a member and collaborate with the Association for Post Merger Integration (“Gesellschaft für Post Merger Integration e.V.”) headquartered in Germany. Some of their members are also faculty members at IMAA.

We are a member of the International Council For Open And Distance Education and share their mission to promote greater quality educational opportunity.

We cooperate with PwC Academy in Sri Lanka and with PwC in many other locations, for example in our IM&A program in Dubai.

We collaborate with and support the Munich Business School in cooperation with the Controller Institut with their M&A training in German (“M&A Lehrgang“) in Munich.

We are a member of the Swiss Federation for Adult Learning (SVEB). Their mission is to ensure high quality in continued education. By providing M&A trainings with the highest standards, we believe to make a useful contribution for the advancement of this field.

The Singapore Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (SVCA) cooperates with the Institute in our M&A trainings as we also support their events and network.

About us

More than a decade of global activity and excellence in M&A Education & Research

Key Facts

Our Vision

Our Mission