
M&A
Competition
£9/$11* for an individual competition entry. Nothing's hidden, we promise!
Not quite sure yet? Keep scrolling 👇
The World's Largest Mergers and Acquisitions Competition for High School, Undergraduate and Graduate Students
Learn what investment bankers actually do by proposing your own real-life M&A deal. Have the opportunity to work in an international team and pitch in front of Investment Banking, Management Consulting, and Private Equity Professionals.
Gain Real
M&A Experience
Textbooks, courses, and guides don't paint the full picture. It's not a hypothetical case competition, we put you into the shoes of an investment banking advisor to come up with a real-life M&A proposal. Students don't normally get this opportunity
Impress Future Employers
Standing out in applications is hard. The competition gives you a real tangible experience to speak about on your CV and in job/internship interviews. Past participants have even gone on to secure positions at prestigious firms (see below)
Build Your Global Network
Connect, network, and collaborate with like-minded ambitious students from many disciplines (no finance experience required) from all regions including Europe, Asia, and the Americas
2x Live Finals Every Year
Work as a team to submit your proposal which will be reviewed by finance professionals. Successful teams will present in the live finals in front of our Judges (see below).
❓❓ Have any questions? Check our FAQ box below, chat with us on What's App using the button below or email support@closethedeal.chat. We are not robots and will get back to you within 24 hours!
Judges & Mentors

Luigi Rizzo
Vice-Chairman
Morgan Stanley
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Saad Benani
Managing Director
Deutsche Bank

Danyaal Shah
Managing Director
Valenta

Indrajeet Mohite
Vice President
Waypoint Partners
Previous Participants Work For..
Our previous participants are at some of the world's most prestigious organisations and bulge-bracket banks
How It Works


What's Included
M&A
Competition
One-Payment (Approx. $11*)
*Payments not in £ are converted and charged a very small fee (between 2-4% usually)
✅ Free Entry to M&A Competition (2x/year)
✅ Access to Global Networking/Team Matching Platform
✅ Access to Previous Finalist Pitches with Feedback
✅ Certificate Awarded After Pitch Submission
✅ Personalised Feedback on Pitch
✅ Opportunity to Present at Live Finals
✅ Opportunity to Win Prizes at Live Finals
Bonus:
⭐ Online learning module 'M&A Overview' (worth £25)
Why Do We Charge a Fee? 💰
It takes a lot to run an international competition with thousands of participants. We charge a small admin fee to cover organisational and infrastructure costs associated with the M&A Competition.
Live Finals
🎥 Our live finals are hosted twice a year where the best students compete to be crowned M&A Competition champions. Watch our previous live finals below.
Over 2000 Participants Globally

Since our first competition in winter 2020, over 2000 people from everywhere in the world have competed in the M&A Competition
Testimonials
As a Master in Finance student, I am interested in the M&A industry and I wanted to gain exposure to M&A industry in general. I have learned to screen through current trends in the markets, companies, and find potentials acquirers/buyers. Further, I have learned to set up a clear and concise pitch to present the research made to a jury.

Nicolas, P. BELGIUM
It was great to be in contact with people who have been in the field (Investment Banking) for so many years, it was reassuring as I knew the advice I was given was projecting me in the correct direction to further my career
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Katia, G. UK
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Is finance experience required?No finance experience is required. Our intro to M&A section of the competition is a great place to start for those with no experience! It represents a unique opportunity for students to get a head start in understanding origination of deals in M&A, VC, PE and even management consulting projects.
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What is the reccomended team size?Teams must be formed of between 2-5 members.
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How do I join a team for the M&A Competition?You can join a team for the M&A Competition in 2 ways: Join a team with friends/people you already know (they must signup to the M&A Competition first) Network with other participants globally on our team matching platform
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How will teams be selected for the live finals?Teams will be assessed on the quality of of their pitch submission according to a predetermined set of judging criteria. A panel of assessors from Close the Deal and Judges/Mentors review all submitted pitches and determine which teams progress to the live finals.
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Will I have time to participate in the M&A Competition?Our competition is available anytime on-demand and we host 2x live finals every year so there is no rush to complete your pitch. You have flexibility to balance the competition around your studies and choose when you want to submit your final pitch. The more time you spend on the M&A Competition, the more you will get out of the experience.
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Do you offer any discounts?Our M&A Competition offers the best value compared to other financial courses available online. On occasion we run promotions that offer discounts - so do sign up for our newsletter to stay up-to-date on our latest offers.
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Are there any hidden fees or costs?The price of the M&A Competition is clearly displayed and there are no hidden fees. There are also no contract obligations or auto-renew agreements with Close the Deal. The M&A Competition is a one-time purchase.
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What payment methods do you accept?We accept all major debit and credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, etc) and Paypal.
FAQs
❓❓ Have more questions? Chat with us on What's App using the button below or email support@closethedeal.chat. We are not robots and will get back to you within 24 hours!
🎓 Educational Institutions Bulk Discount
We offer bulk discounts on the M&A Competition for schools, colleges and universities. Please get in touch and we will tailor a package that meets your needs. We'd be delighted to explore your needs and put together a solution for your students.
£9 - One-Payment
Approx. $11*
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