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Certified Post Merger Integration Specialist (CPMI)

Program Description

The Certified Post Merger Integration Professional (CPMI) is a tailored program to address the needs of advisors, Human Resource professionals, Project Managers, management consultants, change specialists, corporate M&A and integration teams. The program covers all aspect of the post-merger integration process from planning to implementation. The CPMI program is the only globally oriented Post Merger integration certification in existence and is internationally recognized.

WHAT TO EXPECTCONTENTKEY FACTS & FEESWHO PARTICIPATESDESIGNATIONTESTIMONIALS

WHAT TO EXPECT

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:

  • Plan for the integration the right way and early on
    Connect strategy with integration planning and design during the transaction, due diligence, and negotiation phases.
  • Getting the synergies right
    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.
  • Succeed with Change Management
    Learn from our experts how to successfully implement the changes needed to align your goals, bringing organizations together and making the integration a success.

CONTENT

The CPMI program is structured in four modules based on our IMAA Framework and Body of Knowledge for Mergers & Acquisitions. It is available to take online or onsite.

Essentials of M&A
This module covers the fundamentals of Mergers & Acquisitions:

  • 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?
Integration Governance & Project Management
In this module, you will learn how to set up and execute the integration and look at the following issues:

  • 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
Function Integration
In this module, you will explore the drivers, challenges and key activities for the integration with respect to the different business functions, such as

  • Marketing & Sales
  • Finance
  • Human Resources
  • Information Technology
Culture & Change Management
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.

  • 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.

KEY FACTS & FEES

Key Facts

  • 30 hours onsite or approx. 60 hours online
  • Leading faculty from academia and the industry
  • Split into four, easy-to-digest modules
  • Content updated regularly
  • Prequisite: 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)

Course Fee

  • Online Program $2’990 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

* as long as you remain a Charterholder in good standing, i.e. meet continued education requirements and settle membership dues

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


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.

CPMI
Marco Freidl

Senior Project Manager M&A at Oerlikon

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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
Rui Jorge

Senior Manager Finance at Ansell

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Rui Jorge

The CPMI course was a great event, really a pleasure to be part of it. You cannot have any better than the Post Merger Integration training by IMAA. The quality of the material and subjects covered were comprehensive and exceptionally well deployed. The share of experiences of real-life situations from such bright trainers, as well as trainees, have enriched the content and enlengthening the minds. It is a privilege to be a CPMI Charterholder and to continue having access the extensive library, the course and additional materials, that document many years of experience and research on the knowledge areas of Post-Merger Integrations.
CPMI
Bethany Beckham

Lead M&A Integration Specialist at Sunoco LP

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Bethany Beckham

I had the pleasure to attend the onsite training for the CPMI certification program. It was one of the best experiences to network and gather best practices from practitioners around the globe. What I appreciate the most is the small class size that allows more collaboration amongst the attendees and the facilitators. Real world, international experiences that were shared were invaluable and motivated me to continue on my career path.
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Online Self Study Option

The online course offers all the extensive training of the onsite course but with maximum flexibility for busy professionals. This course is designed for self-study, with on-demand video lectures and required readings. The course assignments include real-life business case studies, multiple choice questions, and more. There is no time constraint to complete the online course; so you can set your own schedule and work at your own pace.

Register for the complete certificate or go module by module online:

CPMI Certificate ONLINE Bundle Discount $3,690.00 $2,990.00 Register Now
Take the number one Post Merger Integration program online available wordwide:
  • Real world content developed and instructed by PMI practitioners
  • Well structured and balanced content to succeed in integrations
  • Largest number of experienced experts as instructors
  • Materials specifically designed for online use

You can complete the program part-time while working and without the need to travel to any course or examination location.
This bundle includes all 4 modules:
  • Essentials of M&A
  • Integration Governance and Synergies
  • Integration of Functions
  • Culture and Change Management

Register now, benefit from a discount and get started with your CPMI Certification program!

Register Now
Location:

Wordwide available

The Essentials of M&A module covers:
  • Various deal types
  • M&A Process (buy- and sell-side)
  • Strategies for M&A
  • Introduction to Due Diligence
  • Success Factors in Transactions:
  • Takeover Strategies and Defence Tactics in Hostile M&A
    • For more detailed information, please refer to the content tab above.

    Register Now
Location:

Available worldwide - 24/7

The Integration Governance and Synergies module covers:
  • M&A deal types, implications for integration and key success factors
  • Integration Governance
  • Integration Planning
  • Integration Process Models
  • Balancing Integration activities and day-to-day business
For more detailed information, please refer to the content tab above.

Register Now
Location:

Available worldwide - 24/7

The Function Integration module covers the integration of various business functions:
  • Marketing & Sales
  • Finance
  • Human Resources
  • IT
For more detailed information, please refer to the content tab above.

Register Now
Location:

Available worldwide - 24/7

The Culture and Change Management module covers:
  • Challenges in Change Management and M&A
  • Day 1 and Change Management
  • Cultural Assessment and Integration
  • Pre-closing and post-closing communication
For more detailed information, please refer to the content tab above.

Register Now
Location:

Available worldwide - 24/7

Onsite Option

One of our cohorts – become part of a global network

The onsite version is held in an intensive five-day program and taught by leading faculty members in the industry and specialized subject matter experts to provide participants with the most up-to-date and practical content available. The faculty combines global thought leaders and regional experts. The onsite training allows participants to ask questions and network with an elite and diverse group of professionals.

Register now!

CPMI Certificate ONLINE Bundle Discount $3,690.00 $2,990.00 Register Now
Take the number one Post Merger Integration program online available wordwide:
  • Real world content developed and instructed by PMI practitioners
  • Well structured and balanced content to succeed in integrations
  • Largest number of experienced experts as instructors
  • Materials specifically designed for online use

You can complete the program part-time while working and without the need to travel to any course or examination location.
This bundle includes all 4 modules:
  • Essentials of M&A
  • Integration Governance and Synergies
  • Integration of Functions
  • Culture and Change Management

Register now, benefit from a discount and get started with your CPMI Certification program!

Register Now
Location:

Wordwide available

Vienna 5 October, 2020 - 9 October, 2020 $4,990.00 Register Now
Meet and exchange best practices with an international mix of professionals centrally located in Europe.

Register Now
Location:

Vienna, Austria

START:

Oct 05, 01:00 pm

END:

Oct 09, 12:20 pm

New York 12 October, 2020 - 16 October, 2020 $4,990.00 Register Now
Meet and exchange best practices in integration particularly with post merger integration veterans from the tech sector share their experience. Learn and network with professionals and faculty from some of the fastest growing and most innovation companies also in the field of M&A and Post Merger Integration.

Register Now
Location:

Manhattan (Midtown)
New York

START:

Oct 12, 1:00 pm

END:

Oct 16, 12:20 pm

Singapore 18 November, 2020 - 21 November, 2020 Early Bird $4,990.00 $4,490.00 Until 17-Sep-2020 Register Now
This program is taught by international faculty with experience of PMI globally as well as within South East Asia.

Register Now
Location:

Singapore

START:

Nov 18, 9:00 am

END:

Nov 21, 5:30 pm

All Course Materials and Access to Bonus E-Library Included

All mandatory material as well as recommended readings are included in your tuition. As a bonus, since learning is a continues process to stay abreast of new challenges and opportunities, you gain free 1-year membership to our unique and extensive Learning Center resources. This covers unlimited access to our proprietary e-Library which includes M&A research, and cutting edge publications from our expert faculty and other global thought leaders.

Additional Information

Accreditation and Recognition

We are the global number #1 provider in M&A education. Companies sign up their employees in order to prepare for transactions or to enhance their qualification for the next promotion. 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.

Comparison: Online vs. Onsite Program
FeatureOnlineOnsite
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
Interactive discussions
Networking with peers
Complete the program in 6 days
Meet face to face with faculty
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

If you have any questions, please do reach out to us by:

see our international contact details

How long does it take to complete the M&A Certificate?

The IM&A 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 100 hours of study. Our fastest participants complete it within 2 months.


What is included in the fee?

Our tuition fees include all mandatory and recommended study materials. In addition you get access to our e-library.


When can I enrol for and start with the IM&A Certificate?

You can enrol at any time for the Certificate Program online and start right away. For our onsite M&A courses please check the dates and locations.


Can I take the M&A Certificate entirely online?

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.


How many participants take your M&A programs?

Our courses and programs in Mergers & Acquisitions, Due Diligence, Valuation and Post Merger Integration (PMI) have taken by more than 1’500 participants from all around the world.


What is the difference to other training providers?

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 don’t gain only purely 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.


What is the difference to other certificate programs?

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.


Where can I ask more questions about your M&A training?

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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