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.

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 or M&A Source sponsored 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 or panel moderator 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.  Courses from other Associations may be considered at the discretion of the Credentialing and Education Committees. 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. Please submit the "Outside Education Approval Form" for all requests. Revised August 31, 2009.  
• 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 participation [5 credits per year, per committee]
• 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]   

Resignation/Revocation:

A. The M&AMI designation of any member may be terminated by his/her resignation in writing to the M&A Source Headquarters or by revocation by the M&A Source Board of Directors following a recommendation of revocation by the M&A Source Credentialing Committee upon the occurrence of one or more of the following events:

1. Failure to pay any amounts due to the M&A Source.

2. Failure to complete the requirements for the designation within five (5) years of application for admission to the M&AMI program or the recertification of the designation in the three (3) year recertification period.

3. Violation of the Associations's bylaws and/or rules and regulations, or Code of Ethics.

4. Loss of good standing membership in the M&A Source.

5. Misrepresentation, either intentional or otherwise, of experience or other qualifications.

6. The rendering of a guilty verdict by the Trier of fact of proper jurisdiction (court of arbitration) for charges which, in the opinion of the M&A Source Board of Directors, reasonably establish the M&AMI's noncompliance with those standards required by the M&A Source.

Forfeiture:

Any M&AMI whose designation is terminated shall immediately return his M&AMI certificate and any other similar items (pins, plaques, etc.). In addition, his store of stationery and other renderings mentioning the M&AMI designation must be immediately destroyed. And, lastly, it is specifically understood that the member or former member may not verbally or in print make reference to "former M&AMI," "past M&AMI," or the like.

Invalidation of Credits:

Termination for any reason shall automatically invalidate all credits toward the designation or recertification that have previously or provisionally been awarded by the M&A Source Credentialing Committee.

Reinstatement of M&AMI Designation:

Any member whose designation has been terminated/revoked by resignation or for any reason other than one of a disciplinary character may be reinstated in good standing by a majority vote of the M&A Source Credentialing Committee, provided:

A. The applicant remits an M&AMI extension form to the Credentialing Committee.

1. If the applicant was in arrears on the date the membership was terminated a deposit covering all annual dues or other indebtedness to the M&A Source must be included.

2. The applicant for reinstatement has been approved by the committee. A reinstatement fee may be recommended by the Credentialing Committee.

B. The applicant for reinstatement has met all continuing education and recertification requirements under which he would have been affected if it had not been for the period of termination.

1. If the period of termination exceeds 12 months, the applicant is ineligible for reinstatement and must follow the M&AMI reinstatement guidelines in letter C below.

2. If the application is made within the 12-month period, and is granted by the Credentialing Committee, the applicant may continue to use the M&AMI designation.

3. If reinstated by the Credentialing Committee the M&AMI's next recertification date shall be at the end of the 3rd year from the date the committee made such reinstatement decision.

C. The following M&AMI reinstatement guidelines are for any individual who has let his/her M&AMI lapse past the one year extension:

If the applicant maintained their M&A Source membership:
The applicant must go through the M&AMI Recertification process as noted above.

If the applicant did not maintain their M&A Source membership:
The applicant must go through the M&AMI Certification process, but will be allowed to pick their own M&A Source courses.

*For Lifetime M&AMI issues the new M&AMI attain date will be used.*

Reinstatement of Candidacy:

In the event a member whose candidacy has been terminated applies for reinstatement, his/her credits invalidated by prior termination of candidacy shall not automatically be restored by reinstatement of candidate status but shall be reviewed by the Credentialing Committee with power to restore or decline all or part of such credits.

Lifetime M&AMI and Lifetime M&AMI - Retired:

A.  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).

1.    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.

2.     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