Course overview
FDD Bootcamp
Chicago, July 14-18, 2025
Course Details
Learning Objectives
- Achieve
a comprehensive understanding of the mergers and acquisitions (“M&A”)
process, including the roles of various transaction participants and diligence
service providers.
- Cultivate
essential business skills and habits that create value (“HTCV”) and become a
well-rounded deal professional capable of effectively navigating tricky
situations found in a variety of transaction settings.
- Understand
and analyze the perspectives of various parties involved in M&A
transactions. Participants will learn to think like investors and recognize how
viewpoints differ across investor types (e.g., strategic vs. private equity),
investment stages (e.g., venture capital, growth equity, recapitalizations,
buyouts), and investment strategies (e.g., types of businesses and investments
typically pursued).
- Conduct core FDD analyses
by performing common financial due diligence tasks such as quality of earnings
adjustments, EBITDA adjustments, net working capital analysis, and identifying
debt and debt-like items utilizing Excel and mini-case studies that reflect
real-world industry scenarios.
- Gain proficiency in financial data
processing and reconciliation techniques by learning
how to map and trend trial balances, clean and reconcile data, and perform cash
proofs, ensuring the accuracy and integrity of financial information for due
diligence purposes.
- Understand and apply the key
workflows and best practices in the FDD process,
including detailed timelines, engagement steps, and strategies for managing
both buy-side and sell-side transactions, from initial assessment through final
report preparation.
- Navigate the transaction process
by learning the roles, responsibilities, and typical deliverables for FDD
professionals across various stages of a deal, with a focus on addressing the
specific considerations and challenges that arise in both buy-side and
sell-side engagements.
- Develop the ability to create and
present comprehensive FDD databooks, synthesizing
complex financial data and analyses into clear, well-structured reports that
provide actionable insights and support decision-making throughout the
transaction process.
Certificate
Certificate of completion upon passing grade of 70% on final assessment