The Apex Acquisition | An M&A Competition

Welcome to The Apex Acquisition, the ultimate Mergers & Acquisitions Strategy Challenge hosted by IIT Kharagpur.

Step into the shoes of corporate dealmakers and navigate high-stakes transactions in this simulation of real-world M&A!

General Rules:

• Open to all undergraduate and postgraduate students across India.
• Team Size: 1–3 members per team.
• Team members can be from different institutes.
• A participant can be part of only one team.
• All rounds will be conducted online on Unstop.

Competition Format:

• Round 1: Online Quiz – The Deal Test
  • A 30-minute quiz covering M&A fundamentals, valuation, and current affairs.
  • Top teams based on accuracy and speed will advance.
• Round 2: Case Submission – The Strategic Pitch
  • Teams will receive an M&A case scenario.
  • Required: A 5–8 slide pitch deck (PDF format), covering:
    • Deal rationale
    • Valuation & synergies
    • Risk analysis
    • Strategic fit
  • Submit via Unstop portal.
• Round 3: Grand Finale – The Apex Boardroom
  • Finalists present their M&A strategy live to industry and academic experts.
  • Format: 10-minute presentation + 5-minute Q&A.

Evaluation Criteria:

• Round 1: Accuracy + Speed
• Round 2: Analytical depth, creativity, financial logic, and clarity
• Round 3: Presentation skills, feasibility, innovation, and Q&A response

Prizes & Perks:

• Attractive cash prizes for top teams
• Certificates for all teams qualifying after Round 1
• Networking opportunities with industry professionals

Terms & Conditions:

• Originality is mandatory; plagiarism will lead to disqualification
• Organizers reserve the right to amend rules if necessary
• Judges’ decisions will be final and binding