Private Equity Certificate Program
In collaboration with
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View the full Program syllabus as well as details on faculty, guest speakers and key learner benefits.
Explore Private Equity, a $4.7 trillion industry, with top faculty and industry experts from Wharton Online and Wall Street Prep and receive a certificate on completion of the course.
Program overview
The Private Equity Certificate Program, a collaboration between The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and Wall Street Prep, provides a comprehensive education in private equity essentials. Led by Wharton Online's faculty and Wall Street Prep's practical approach, participants delve into deal structuring, valuation techniques, due diligence, and exit strategies. This program blends academic depth with real-world applicability, offering professionals a competitive edge in navigating complex investment landscapes and driving value creation.
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In recent times, private equity has evolved dynamically. Investors are embracing ESG principles, while tech and data are revolutionizing decision-making. Alternative financing options provide flexibility, and globalization fosters cross-border deals and partnerships. This paints a picture of a sector propelled by innovation, responsible investing, and strategic synergy.
Program Highlights
The Wharton & Wall Street Prep Private Equity Certificate Program is an immersive learning experience made up of self-paced video lecture, real-world exercises, industry case studies and full faculty support
26-Weeks Program
Focusing on Private Equity
Gain the skillset of an early- to mid-level Private Equity professional.
5 Hour Weekly
Time Commitment
A comprehensive certificate program designed to fit into your busy schedule.
Self-paced Online
Learning Experience
Complete the program on our online learning platform at your own pace.
Learn Directly With
Industry Experts
Hear directly from the best about PE investing and the latest industry trends via our guest speaker series.
Case Studies That
Capture Perspective
Learn first-hand how top PE firms execute deals, analyze companies and evaluate investment opportunities.
PE Certification
Issued from Wharton Online
Upon completion of the program, you will receive a Certificate ofCompletion from Wharton Online.
Program curriculum
Over the course of eight weeks, you will learn the concepts and practical technical methods investment professionals deploy in both evaluating and executing private transactions. Delivered in a weekly self-paced online format, the program culminates in a closing ceremony and the receipt of a Certificate from Wharton Online.
Module 1
Introduction to the Private Equity Asset Class
The foundation for your learning experience is an overview of the private equity asset class and how private equity firms function
- History & Evolution of Private Equity as an Asset Class
- Fund Structure, Management & the General Partner /Limited Partner Relationship
- Private Equity within the Private Market and Alternatives Ecosystem
- Current State of Private Equity in Emerging Markets
Module 2
The PE Investment Framework
Learn the investment approach, value creation strategies, and valuation methods deployed by private equity.
- Common Investment Strategies
- LBO Analysis, Hurdle Rates and Returns
- Leverage as Tool for Value Creation in Private Equity
- Introduction to Valuation Methods: DCF, Comparables, and Multiples Analysis
Module 3
The Private Equity Deal Process
Practical exercises, real life examples and case studies bring the private equity deal process to life. In this module, we explore the practical aspects of the key stages of an investment.
- Anatomy of the Deal Process: Stages, Workstreams & Responsibilities
- The Role of Third Parties & Their Functions
- Deal Docs: NDAs, Teaser/CIMs, IOIs/LOIs, SPA/APA, Credit Agreements
- Key Terms and Points of Negotiation in a Transaction
Module 4
Deal Structure
Explore and contrast common PE deal structures and the competing motivations and perspectives of the buyer and seller. Understand the various tax and financial considerations associated with each structure.
- Deal Structuring: Asset sales/338(h)(10) vs Stock Sales
- M&A Accounting, Purchase Price Allocation and Tax Implications
- Impact of Deal Structure on Seller Proceeds, Cash Flow and Sponsor Returns
- Leveraged Finance and Private Credit
- EBITDA, Working Capital and the Quality of Earnings
Module 5
Private Company Analysis, Valuation & LBO Modeling, Part 1
Using real case studies of both private and public investments, learn how to construct the financial models deployed by PE firms to evaluate investments.
- Private vs. Public Company Analysis
- Valuation Methodologies: DCF, Comparables and Presentation
- Middle Market Transaction Simulation & Case Study
- Defining & Calculating EBITDA
- Financial Modeling Best Practices
- Income Statement and Balance Sheet Projections
Module 6
Private Company Analysis, Valuation & LBO Modeling, Part 2
Through the completion of the middle market transaction simulation & case study, this module walks through a detailed LBO model build and explores the role and limits of the LBO model in the investment decision making process.
- Bottom-Up LBO Model Build
- Operating Model Build & LBO Integration
- Developing Transaction & Model Assumptions
- Using the LBO Model to Inform Investment Recommendations
Module 7
Thinking Like a Private Equity Professional, Part 1
This module begins to explore how private equity professionals think about investment opportunities, in the context of the due diligence process.
- Understanding Industries and TAMs
- Barriers to Entry & Competitive Advantage
- The Data Room Loop: Working with Management Data
- Drivers of Value in an Operating Model
- Business Segmentation & Modeling Common Revenue Builds
Module 8
Thinking Like a Private Equity Professional, Part 2
This module expands on \operating model builds to cover cost structures, expense modeling, and data analysis. The module concludes with a case interview and LBO build to prepare you for the private equity interview process after program completion.
- Cost Structures & Common Expense Build Modeling
- Unit Economics & Operating Leverage
- Modeling Add-Ons and Acquisitions
- The SaaS Model, Recurring Revenue Builds and Cohort Analysis
- PE Case Interview & LBO Model Build
Faculty & Speakers
Zach Ranen
Zach Ranen is a Private Equity Instructor with Wall Street Prep and the Founder and CEO of RAIZE, an online bakery for healthy, gluten-free desserts. Prior to joining Wall Street Prep and founding RAIZE, Zach was an associate at Warburg Pincus in the Industrial & Business Services
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group. where he focused on evaluating investments, building valuation models, conducting financial analysis, and managing portfolio companies. Zach is an alumnus of The University of Pennsylvania Wharton School where he graduated Summa Cum Laude and Beta Gamma Sigma with a B.S. in Finance and Economics.
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Chris Reilly
Christopher Reilly is a Denver-based M&A and FP&A Contractor and finance course creator. He began his career with FTI Consulting, Inc. and focused on Bankruptcy and Restructuring, then worked at Hilton Worldwide in its Corporate Finance and Treasury Departments,
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and then spent several years in Middle Market Private Equity before starting his own Contractor and Education business in 2020. Chris is a 2009 graduate of the Villanova School of Business.
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Michael Stack
Michael Stack is currently the Chief of Staff at DICK’S Sporting Goods and Founder of Bokeh Partners, a boutique financial advisory firm. Prior to DICK’S, Michael was a Senior Private Equity Instructor at Wall Street Prep. Prior to Wall Street Prep, Michael was Director of Product
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Development at DICK’S Sporting Goods, Inc. Prior to attending business school, he was an Associate at Warburg Pincus, a global private equity firm with more than $44 billion in assets under management. He began his career at PJ Solomon, a boutique investment bank, as an analyst advising clients primarily on M&A transactions. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.
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Alex Stoyanov
Alex Stoyanov is a Senior Private Equity Instructor with Wall Street Prep. Alex has 13 years of investment banking experience, with a main focus on mergers and acquisitions and the oil & gas sector. Alex began his career at Lehman Brothers in New York (later acquired by Barclays), before
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moving to Goldman Sachs in their Houston and London offices. Currently, Alex is focused on investing in growth companies across various sectors, including cryptocurrencies, real estate, healthcare, and technology. Alex has graduated with an MBA from Columbia Business School in New York and is a CFA charterholder.
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Ayodele Ekhator
Ayodele Ekhator is a Private Equity Instructor with Wall Street Prep and the Founder and CEO of AllStreet, a private fund marketplace. Prior to joining WSP and founding AllStreet, Ayo was a Summer Associate at Apex Digital. Prior to Apex, Ayo was an associate in the Blackstone
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Group’s Strategic Capital Group, the business that acquires minority GP stakes in alternative asset management companies. Prior to joining Blackstone, Ayo was an analyst at Citigroup, where he focused on Municipal and Project Finance investment banking and capital markets origination. Ayo is an incoming MBA Candidate at Harvard Business School and earned a B.A. in Political Science from Williams College.
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Matan Feldman
Matan Feldman is Wall Street Prep’s Founder and Managing Partner. His responsibilities include business development, development of courses, and overseeing training programs. Matan has overseen training programs for clients including Morgan Stanley, Credit Suisse,
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Raymond James, Stifel Nicolaus, FBR Capital Markets, Sagent Advisors, Giuliani Capital Advisors, JP Morgan, Cerberus, Wharton Business School, London Business School, Kellogg, Booth, Stern (NYU), and Cornell. Prior to founding Wall Street Prep, Matan served in several capacities on Wall Street — first as an Analyst in Chase Manhattan Bank’s Mergers & Acquisitions Group in New York, and subsequently as an Associate within JP Morgan’s Equity Research Group, covering Food & Drug Retail Equities.
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Zach Freeman
Zach Freeman is a Senior Private Equity Instructor at Wall Street Prep. Prior to joining Wall Street Prep, Zach was an associate at Bernhard Capital, an energy services private equity firm where he focused on evaluating investments, building valuation models, conducting financial
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analysis, diligence and managing portfolio companies within the energy services space. Before Bernhard Capital, Zach was an associate at Goldman Sachs in the TMT Investment Banking Group. Zach majored in Math at Duke University.
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Jessica Holton
Jessica Holton is a Senior Instructor with Wall Street Prep and the Co-Founder & Co-CEO of Ours, a relationship wellness company. Prior to Wall Street Prep and Ours, Jessica was an associate in the Carlyle Group’s U.S. Buyout Consumer & Retail group,
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where she focused on evaluating investments, building valuation models, conducting financial analysis and diligence and managing portfolio companies within the consumer and retail space. Before Carlyle, Jessica was an analyst in the Financial Sponsors Group at Morgan Stanley. She majored in finance and accounting at Georgetown and earned an MBA from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business.
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Marc Howland
Marc Howland’s experience spans investment banking advisory, private equity b uyo u t, minority investing and capital raising across various industries and transaction types and sizes. While at Goldman Sachs andThe Carlyle Group in New York City,
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Marc helped execute $70 billion worth of global M&A and financingtransactions in the technology, media, telecom, infrastructure and sports facility finance markets. Heearned his M.B.A., with Honors, from Harvard Business School and his B.A. in Business Economics, Magna CumLaude, from Brown University.
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Arkady Libman
Arkady Libman co-authored many of Wall Street Prep’s training materials and has conducted corporate training for many of Wall Street Prep’s clients, including Enogex, Rosetta Resources, Hess Corporation, Silicon Valley Bank, RBC Capital Markets, Stifel Nicolaus,
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and FBR Capital Markets. In addition, Arkady conducts training programs at top business schools across the world, including Wharton, MIT Sloan, Wharton, Tuck, INSEAD, London Business School, and University of Michigan. Prior to joining Wall Street Prep, Arkady was an Associate within the Energy & Natural Resources of the Equity Research Group at FBR Capital Markets.
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Adam McGowan
Adam McGowan is a Senior Instructor with Wall Street Prep. Adam’s diverse career in finance includes investment banking, corporate finance and transaction advisory services consulting. Adam has held senior corporate strategy and transaction advisory positions at Cisco,
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Capgemini and C&S. Prior to Wall Street Prep, Adam was a Vice President at McNamee Lawrence & Co., a technology boutique investment bank, where he specialized in M&A and private financings. Adam was also a Senior Financial Analyst at one of the top 10 largest private companies where he assisted the company with its first debt offering. Adam has consulted numerous senior management teams and boards of directors on their M&A strategies. Adam holds Series 7 and Series 63 licenses. Adam received an MBA from Yale, a Master’s of Engineering from MIT and a BS from Virginia Tech.
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Lidia Napier
With over 15 years of valuation experience, Lidia Napier specializes in the valuation of businesses, intangible assets, and equity securities for financial and tax reporting, M&A, and litigation support purposes. Before joining CFGI, Lidia was a Manager in the Transaction Services
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practice of PwC. She was a leading advisor to clients on valuation principles, methodologies, and assumptions used in the valuation of debt and equity securities, complex instruments, inventory, customer relationships, technology, IPR&D, and trade names. Lidia has extensive experience working with Big 4 auditors and possesses the ability to anticipate expected concerns presented by the audit review process and offers pro-active solutions prior to the review stages of an engagement.
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Who Applies to the Program?
The Wharton & Wall Street Prep Private Equity Certificate Program is designed for both finance and non-finance professionals in their early to mid career seeking to understand private equity investing.
Investment Professionals
Investment Bankers
Family Offices
Private Lenders
Sponsors & Search Funds
Support Roles in Private Equity
Career Switchers
Finance professionals
*The selection will be based on the delegate’s academic background
Testimonials
Certificate
The Private Equity Certificate Program is proudly awarded by Wharton Online in collaboration with Wall Street Prep, two renowned institutions in the field of business and finance education. Upon successful completion of the program certificate with personalized details of your achievement will be emailed to you.
Earn 65 CPE Credits for the Private Equity Certificate Program.
FAQs
What will I learn from taking this program?
The Wharton Online Private Equity Certification Program will teach learners how to analyze private equity investments, blending investment theory with real-world analysis as done at leading private equity firms. This includes LBO modeling, mergers and acquisitions courses, financial modeling, and valuation courses.
How often are programs offered?
Private Equity online course will be offered twice a year.
How much time will it take to complete this certificate?
The Private Equity Certification Course is designed to run for 26 weeks.
What languages will the program be offered in?
This online private equity course is offered in English only.
What is the program refund policy?
This program is non-refundable.
What Job roles can a candidate pursue post-certification?
Graduates can pursue roles such as Investment Analyst, Associate, Fundraising & Investor Relations, Financial Consultant, Portfolio Manager, Risk Manager, Business Development Associate, Investment Banking Analyst, Corporate Development Analyst, and more. These roles often require expertise gained through private equity training courses, venture capital courses, and finance modeling courses.