Certified Post Merger Integration Expert (CPMI)
Fees & Key Facts about CPMI Trainings
- Onsite and Virtual Live: 30 hours; Online: approx. 60 hours
- Leading faculty from academia and the industry
- Split into four, easy-to-digest modules
- Content updated regularly
- Prerequisite: Hold an academic degree (e.g. PhD, JD, DBA, MBA or Bachelor Degree); and/or hold one or more professional designations (such as CPA, CFA, CAIA, SHRM-CP or equivalent)
- Online Program $2’990 USD
- Virtual Live Program $3’990 USD
- Onsite Program $4’990 USD
Included
- Life-long access to the most up-to-date online course content *
- Onsite programs include hard copies of all presentations and materials
- CPMI Charter and Designation upon completion
- First year of Annual Membership Fee
- Access to the entire IMAA e-Library
- Global network of charterholders and experts
- Continued Education / Continued Professional Development: 10 hours bi-annually of relevant online or onsite education provided by IMAA (online CE/CPD included in the annual membership fee
What to Expect From CPMI Certification
The Post Merger Integration program dives deep into the integration issues post acquisition or merger. It covers pre-closing preparation in terms of strategy, synergy identification, and integration planning as well as actually running and implementing the integration in terms of integration governance and project management. Also integration issues and aspects of different core functions, such as marketing & sales, finance, human resources, etc. are covered. Last but not least, there is an additional emphasis on change management in order to make the integration a success.
Whether you are involved in the integration as part of the acquiring or target company or assist clients as a consultant, this program will help you to understand the complexity in integration in its entirety and do a better job in dealing with its complexity.
In the highly interactive on-site course or the self-paced online course, you’ll take your skills to the next level by practicing:
Connect strategy with integration planning and design during the transaction, due diligence, and negotiation phases.
Explore and corroborate the various synergies that can be achieved in different functions and the business be it cost and/or growth synergies and how to realize them.
Learn from our experts how to successfully implement the changes needed to align your goals, bringing organizations together and making the integration a success.
Included In The CPMI Course
The CPMI program is structured in four modules based on our CPMI Framework and Body of Knowledge for Mergers & Acquisitions. It is available to take online or onsite.
This module covers the fundamentals of Mergers & Acquisitions:
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- Deal types: What are the different types of transactions that you can use in M&A? There is a whole range of deal types and deal continuum that we look at, e.g. the full spectrum from minority stakes to full acquisitions, various ways to arrange a merger, leveraged buy outs (LBOs), initial public offerings (IPOs), divestitures, spin-offs, equity carve-outs-
- M&A Process: The program covers both perspectives from a buyer’s perspective (buy side) and from a seller’s perspective (sell-side). We explore how to seek buyers or potential targets (long list & short list) and how to run a sale in various ways (negotiations and auctions).
- Strategies for M&A: We dive into the strategies for Megers & Acquisitions. How can you create competitive advantage through M&A, divestitures and equity alliance?
- M&A Negotiation: How can you prepare for the negotiation phase? What are ways to arrange a value creating deal?
- Introduction to Due Diligence: How do you prepare for and execute a smart Due Diligence to assure value creation? What are the different areas that can be covered in the Due Diligence process?
- Success Factors in Transactions: We explore the success factors and key challenges and mistakes to avoid. Which M&A tactics work in which industries?
- Takeover Strategies and Defence Tactics: How can you prepare your company against a hostile takeover attempt and reduce potential threats? Which are the defence mechanisms that you can put into place and how affective are they? Which ways exist to acquire a business successfully in a hostile way?
In this module, you will learn how to set up and execute the integration and look at the following issues:
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- M&A deal types, implications for integration and key success factors: value maximization in M&A; acquisition climate and target resistance; directions of M&A integration; dependencies between the acquisition strategy and degree of integration; key success factors in M&A dynamics
- Integration Governance: Governance structure including Steering Committees, Integration Management Office (IMO), work-streams (functional and others), roles & responsibilities; integration design & implementation on day 1 execution; mobilizing the IMO; integrations as professional project management; handover from transaction team to integration team
- Integration Planning: Integration principles and planning directions; business goals and integration activities; integration playbooks
- Integration Process Models: Compact model; sub-project model; process model; hybrid model; development and tracking
- Balancing Integration activities and day-to-day business: business as usual challenges in integration; how to keep the focus on day-to-day business; clarification on key customer journeys; the role and benefits of quick wins
In this module, you will explore the drivers, challenges and key activities for the integration with respect to the different business functions, such as
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- Marketing & Sales
- Finance
- Human Resources
- Information Technology
The module on Change Management will specifically address these issues in the deal environment and how to bring change successfully to organizations in the post acquisition or merger phase.
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- Challenges in Change Management and M&A: Why it is needed and how to overcome the merger syndrome? How to deal with individual employees and groups in their different status in the integration journey? Factors needed for successful change. The general syndromes of resistance to change and how to overcome them.
- Day 1 and Change Management: The psychological shift in the M&A process from pre-deal to Day 1. The different dimensions and transition. Important work-stream considerations for Day 1.
- Cultural Assessment and Integration: Dimensions and categories of cultural assessment. Types of cultural integration. How to integrate the different business functions, e.g. Sales & Marketing, Finance, HR, etc.
- Communication: Pre-closing and post-closing communication. Internal and external communication in integration. Stakeholder expectations and management.
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the different methods companies can acquire or merge another firm
- Distinguish between Management Buy Outs and Management Buy Ins
- Differentiate between spin-off, split-off & carve-outs
- Classify horizontal & vertical mergers
- Identify different strategies companies use to exit investments
- Classify types of tender offers and what constitutes them
- Analyze and compare different ownership shapes & structures
- Identify growth factors in M&A transactions
- Structure & manage M&A portfolios
- Identify value adding factors in M&A
- Identify value destroying factors
- Analyze various success measurement test & methods
- Classify drivers of profitability in M&A
- Analyze historical M&A waves and their driving factors
- Identify factors in Cross Border M&A activity
- European, Emerging markets, based on regions
- Evaluate historically largest deals
- Define characteristics of M&A waves
- Understand the buy and sell side process, covering both the traditional and holistic view
- Distinguish between the role of advisors and working with them in an M&A setting
- Establish framework for potential target buyer and seller searches
- Identifying relevant industries, companies, locations, financial advisors
- Preparing long and short lists
- How do M&A deals originate and the deal flow
- Discuss necessary agreements and documents in M&A deals
- Construct due diligence plans and activities
- Conducting and updating findings over the transaction lifecycle
- Organizing due diligence teams and data room management
- Identify various areas that require due diligence runs
- Conduct due diligence in a cross-border setting
- Create a minimalistic due diligence
- Identify warning signs in due diligence results
- Judge past and present takeovers battles
- Analyze takeover attacks and strategies for defense
- Understanding various merger types and appropriate integration methods
- Outlining success factors
- Identifying quick wins and synergies
- Developing governance structure
- Identifying project and function leads
- Building Project Management office and steering committee
- Defining governance roles for PMO, Steering Committee
- Define reporting standards
- Developing communication roll out plan and implementation
- Planning and executing Day 1 plans
- Outlining pressing strategic needs
- Initiating communication plan for Day 1
- Mobilizing PMOs, ensure functional representation
- Workstream consolidation and horizontal functions
- Developing and implementing weekly process
- Develop and implement process for aligning companies
- Understand key alignment factors
- Familiarize with tools for implementation
- Align integration plans with business strategy
- Create alignment procedures
- Identify workstreams and implement
- Develop and align integration phases
- Initialize plan for identifying and implementing synergies
- Identify driver for M&A and cement targets
- Lay out typical areas for potential synergies
- Align synergies with post close operating model
- Identify various planning and implementation risks
- Align due diligence findings with synergies
- Modelling synergies
- Identifying key performance factors
- Identifying target and screening processes
- Planning Initial due diligence phase identifying key information requirements
- Developing and implementing transition phase model
- Developing phase model for Day 1/ First 100 Days
- Understand project management principles and implementation in integration management
- Align integration plans with project management principles
- Define responsibilities for organizational change projects
- Identify key factors for quick wins
- Execution for realizing quick wins
- Identify various Dimensions of change management
- Familiarizing and using appropriate change management tools
- Derive methods of data collection and metric development
- Identify the driver and inhibitors of change
- Familiarizing with tools for managing change Identify challenges and ambiguities
- Plan for managing for potential conflicts
- Develop blueprint for day 1 communication
- Identify cultural differences within merging firms
- Develop plan for running cultural due diligence and assessment
- Identify best possible structure based on assessment finding
- Develop roadmap for cultural integration or assimilation
- Developing a communication plan
- Identify key stakeholders for communication loop
- Assess potential channels for communication
- Understand communication phases and implementation plans
- Identify risks and opportunities when assessing culture
- Identify key aspects for managing new culture
- Develop roadmap for integrating culture
- Align functions with acquisition rational
- Prioritize integration decisions based on blueprint
- Identify and manage stakeholders based on necessity
- Developing plan for key individuals for retention and core management
- Identifying possible sales synergies
- Develop plan implement key growth methods
- Identify quick commercial wins
- Define possible challenges arising
- Develop customer-centric plan for communication and realizing synergies
- Align with cultural assessment
- Understand the different phases and analytical blueprint
- Learn and apply data analysis methods
- Understand methods for qualitative assessment
- Understand the building blocks for customer centric selling
- Identify financial function integration areas
- Isolate key finance integration consideration
- Identify reporting pressures
- Develop plan for continuity and dependencies
- Develop plan for aligning and consolidating financial books
- Identify and implement business controls
- Understand financing risk profile
- Understand integration tracking tools and implementation
Who participates
While you will meet an international mix of participants from various industries, the Mergers and Acquisitions program is designed for mid-management to senior executives in the C-Suite, directors of public and private companies, board leaders, and heads of strategy and corporate development. It is also geared toward advisers, investment bankers, transactional lawyers, and private equity investors. Individuals and teams are welcome to attend.
By Function
By Industry
By Region
We’re Trusted By
Designation
After successfully completing the course, you will receive the CPMI Charter. The CPMI designation is the most internationally recognized designation offered in the field of Post Merger Integration. This charter signals to peers, clients, employers, and other professionals that you have completed the most comprehensive PMI education program available and are proficient in all areas of the mergers and acquisitions process.
FAQ’s about CPMI Certification
We are the global number #1 provider in M&A education. Participants sign up or companies send their employees in order to prepare for transactions or to enhance their qualification. Future employers reach out to us to check the credentials of candidates and their current status as a charterholder. Potential clients look to us to recommend advisors. We are a high quality provider and are recognized by many other institutions as a continued education provider. Find out more about our accreditations and recognition.
| Feature | Online | Onsite |
| Real-life business cases |  | |
| All mandatory course materials included | | |
| Lifelong online access to most current content | | |
| 1-year Individual IMAA Membership | | |
| Start right away | | |
| On-Demand video lectures & direct tutoring | | |
| Full flexibility | | |
| No time constraint | | |
| Work from anywhere in the world | | |
| Different dates & locations worldwide | |
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| Interactive discussions | |
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| Networking with peers | |
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| Complete the program in 6 days | |
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| Meet face to face with faculty | |
The CPMI Certification is designed as a part-time program for professionals. The total time of completion depends on your prior background and time you can devote to this. In total for the online program it may take about 50 hours of study. Our fastest participants complete it within 2 months.
Our tuition fees include all mandatory and recommended study materials. In addition you get access to our e-library.
You can enroll at any time for the Certificate Program online and start right away. For our onsite M&A courses please check the dates and locations.
Yes, you can take the entire program online from anywhere in the world or while travelling. This is what many of our participants do. For the completion of the M&A Certification there is no physical attendance necessary. However, you can combine online with onsite workshops to reach your designation.
Our courses and programs in Mergers & Acquisitions, Due Diligence, Valuation and Post Merger Integration (PMI) have taken by more than 2’200 participants from all around the world.
We are the number #1 provider and set the standards. Compared with academic executive education offerings, our faculty members are not pure academics – they have closed M&A deals as professionals themselves. So you not only gain theoretical insights, but you will learn hands-on knowledge. Compared with for-profit providers, we are purely focused on M&A trainings and bring in a solid foundation, great structured approach to learning, and the international dimension – and we reinvest in improving our offering.
If you compare our programs with the CFA, CAIA, CIMA, or others – we are purely focused on M&A only and are very complementary to these programs. There is very little overlap among the content and insights that our programs provide. Most of them accept our program as continued education.
If you have additional questions, please reach out to us via chat, contact form, or give us a call. We are looking forward to hearing from you and learn about your needs and questions.
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Testimonials
Meghna Verma
The curriculum for the CPMI program is well designed. Expertise of instructors and examples provided are helpful to understand the complex context of M&A. Exercises and Case Studies assignments compel you to think hard and provide an immersive experience.
- CPMI
Kathy Miller
The CPMI certification helped me ramp up quickly for a new role in M&A.
The online content was easy to follow, pragmatic and well presented by experts in the field with real world experience. The various topics were aligned and instructors often reinforced principles introduced in earlier sections. The examples and comparisons of actual deals were particularly informative. The flexible online format worked well for me rather than a fixed schedule. Support is available if you need it from the imaa staff and they are quick to respond.
I have recommended the course to a few of my collogues and one has already completed it. My overall experience with imaa has been very positive.
- CPMI
Christian B. Waegt
When I was searching a training to widen my knowledge in post-merger integrations, the CPMI course at IMAA has been recommended to me. This course was an easy choice as it brings a deep and solid foundation of all aspects around the planning and execution of PMI projects, but also comes with a unique possibility to get real-life experience. Not only the good conversations with the lecturers, but also the active exchange with my course fellows widened my perspective and gave good practical hints on what works and what doesn’t. I can strongly recommend this course to all who are supposed to start an integration project or plan to take a leading role.
- CPMI
Lauren​ Gerow
After detailed research on M&A continuing education in the marketplace, selecting IMAA’s Post Merger Integration Certification was an easy choice. The CPMI program offers relevant courses, knowledgeable professors and flexibility. The interactive virtual environment allowed for the opportunity to learn from experts from across the globe and network with industry professionals. This program gave me the confidence to facilitate complex integration discussions, practical resources and the ability for me to support my organization in achieving their growth objectives. I would highly recommend this investment to anyone who is responsible for overall M&A strategy, function integration or change management considering professional development- a great virtual classroom experience!
- CPMI
Marco Freidl
I very much appreciated the direct interactions and active discussions with other participants each with a different background. In addition, learning from and discussing with the experienced professionals who were leading the course was highly valuable. It was also great to look at PMI from different but at the same time often interlinked perspectives which in the course of the program increasingly became part of an overall framework. - CPMI
Registration for the CPMI Trainings
OnlineTake the number one Post Merger Integration program online available wordwide:Show More...
OnlineTake the number one Post Merger Integration program online available wordwide:Show More...
The Essentials of M&A module provides you with a solid foundation in M&A so you can deep dive in integration issues laster. This module covers:Show More...
The Integration Governance and Synergies module covers:Show More...
The Function Integration module covers the integration of various business functions:Show More...
The Culture and Change Management module covers:Show More...
