The Merger & Acquisition Master Intermediary certification places you in an elite group of M&A professionals in your industry. The Merger & Acquisition Master Intermediary designation will afford you the professional growth and marketability unlike any other in your profession. It establishes you as a seasoned intermediary professional to the middle market client.

Merger & Acquisition Master Intermediary Certification and Recertification Requirements:  (Effective June 9, 2007).

1. Membership in the M&A Source. If you're not a member,
   Click here to join the Source.
2. Complete Merger & Acquisition Master Intermediary Application*
   *Applicant will have a 5 year window from the date of application to complete all requirements for the Merger & Acquisition Master Intermediary Designation. The time period can be from 5 years prior to receipt of application, 5 years after receipt of application or any combination of years prior and after as long as the total number of years is no greater than 5.
   Click here to Submit Merger & Acquisition Master Intermediary application online (online application undergoing maintenance - please check back soon), or Download a pdf version of the application.
   *You need Adobe Acrobat to download this version.
3. CBI Designation (earn CBI and Merger & Acquisition Master Intermediary designations simultaneously-not considered Merger & Acquisition Master Intermediary Candidate until CBI Designation earned)Click here to for more information on the CBI Designation. 
4. Attended/Taught 32 hours of 300, 400, or 500 level courses over a five-year period.
       A. Merger & Acquisition Master Intermediary applicant is responsible to submit classes taken and verification of classes.
       B. IBBA will only have the course records from the current CBI records.
5. Attend three M&A Conference and Deal Mart Expos over a five-year period.
6. Proof of three M&A Transactions in which the total transaction value* is one million or greater excluding real estate. Please submit the
   M&AMI Transaction Submittal Form for each transaction and follow directions in providing the necessary documents as proof of the transaction.
   
   *The transaction value shall be based upon the total value of all consideration received on or before the closing date, or to be received in some future date, by client, directly or indirectly in connection with the acquisition of client (?Economic Benefit?). Such consideration, whether cash, or non-cash (or a combination thereof), shall include, but is not necessarily limited to the full amount of: cash, cash equivalents, notes payable to client or its successor beneficiaries, liabilities and guarantees released, liabilities assumed, earn outs, royalties, licensing fee, real properties sold or leased, non competition agreements, consulting agreements, amounts above normalized rentals or job-related compensation, and securities.

Credentialing Committee:

The Committee will consist of at least six members; Three M&AMI members and the balance of CBI members. The Chair and Vice-Chair of the credentialing committee will be appointed by the IBBA Board serving three-year terms, and the immediate past Chair will remain on the committee for at least 1 year for continuity.

Recertification Requirements:

Recertification period 3 years-Every Merger & Acquisition Master Intermediary must complete the re-certification requirements by December 31st following the third (3rd) anniversary of the award and each three (3) years thereafter. The CBI and M&AMI recertification dates will become synchronized and a member who qualifies for the M&AMI recertification automatically qualifies for the CBI recertification during the same period.

1. Member in good standing of the M&A Source
2. Current and in good standing CBI Designation
3. Three Semi-annual M&A Conference and Deal Mart Expos (If more than 3 Semi-annual M&A Conferences are attended in a certification period there is the option to carry 1 over to the next certification period. Proof must be submitted to Headquarters)
4. 10 Credits:  One Transaction in which the total transaction value is one million dollars or greater excluding the real estate. M&AMI's who own/manage a firm will be allowed to use a transaction from a broker they manage to count towards their recertification transaction requirement.  The broker is allowed to use the same transaction for certification purposes.  If two brokers are working together as a team on a transaction, then both brokers can use the same transaction for certification or recertification. Please use the M&AMI Transaction Submittal Form
5. 33 Additional Credits
       A. Completion or taught 16 credits of IBBA University 300/400/500/900 level  courses (Instructors receive 1.5X's course credit)
       B. 17 credits made up of the following:

• Completion or taught additional IBBA University course(s) 
• Speaker at an IBBA or M&A conference [5 credits]
• Attendance at additional Semi-annual M&A Conference and Deal Mart Expos [10 Credits]
• Outside* Education Course - 10 credits maximum
• * Must be offered by American Bar Association, American Society of Appraisers, Institute of Business Appraisers, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, National Association of Realtors.  In all cases the course must be related to the business brokerage profession. Verification of completion will be determined by course description and course verification certificate. The course must be a structured educational "course" (not a workshop or seminar) and must be at least 4 hours in duration. Revised June 6, 2006.  
• Contributor to IBBA News (per publication) [5 credits]
• Submit to headquarters a published article that discusses M&A [5 credits]
• M&A Source Chair [10 credits]
• M&A Source Committee Chair [5 credits]
• M&A Source Committee Member [5 credits]
• Lead Subject Matter Expert (SME) for IBBA University M&A Course [32 credits per course]
• Contributing Subject Matter Expert (SME) for IBBA University M&A Course [16 credits per course]   

Lifetime M&AMI:

Effective June 9, 2007, IBBA has adopted a "Lifetime M&AMI" status policy to be offered to any current holder of the M&AMI that has been a member of the M&A Source for a minimum period of fifteen (15) years, held the designation for at least ten (10) years and who has attained the minimum age of seventy (70).

a.       The member will be required to maintain their membership status and pay the annual fees for maintenance of the CBI and M&AMI designations. There will be no other requirements for attendance and education.

b.      If a designee should decide to apply for the Lifetime M&AMI status all reference to the letters "M&AMI" and the term "Merger and Acquisition Master Intermediary" must be removed from documentation and replaced with the term "Lifetime M&AMI".

Download Lifetime M&AMI Request Form