HHL Finance Case Challenge 2025 powered by Ardian and BCG
Where
HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management, Jahnallee 59, 04105 Leipzig
When
Register/Tickets
Up for a challenge?
You are always up for a challenge and Finance is your passion? Then join HHL and our corporate partner from private equity and consulting, Ardian and BCG, for our in-person HHL Finance Case Challenge! If you are a current bachelor student or a recent graduate in Business or Economics, then this is your call to apply for this unforgettable experience where we put you in the shoes of M&A practitioners.
The HHL Finance Case Challenge
On day 1, you will find yourself in the shoes of a private equity (PE), i.e., financial, investor. You will analyze the potential target from a strategic perspective but also based on a leveraged buyout (LBO) logic. How well is the company positioned? Is there sufficient value creation potential for PE investors? What is a fair price and sustainable financing? The Ardian expansion team will be out there to give guidance and sparring to your team. Later, you will pitch your results to the PE’s investment committee. After that, we will take off to a nice dinner in Leipzig’s vibrant city center.
On day 2, we move forward in time and switch to a consulting perspective. What if the target company does not perform as planned after the acquisition? What if the expected value creation is in danger? You take the role of management consultants out there to detect issues and bring the company back on track. Your team will be mentored and challenged by experts from BCG while analyzing the target, determining improvement measures and preparing a pitch to the target’s new owners. A heated discussion with our jury, i.e., the board, awaits you at the end giving you a real flavor of what can happen.
Finally, we will crown the best teams of day 1 and day 2 before we come together for an on-campus barbecue to conclude the event.
For both days, HHL’s faculty is going to provide on-demand mini-lectures to introduce you to the topics and equip you with useful tools to master the challenge.
The overnight stay in Leipzig and the complete catering during the 2-day workshop will be provided.
Your profile
- You are a current bachelor student or a recent graduate in business, economics or alike.
- You have above average grades and/or some first relevant practical experiences.
- You have a passion for finance and strategy, and some very first insights on the world of finance (e.g., you have heard how to value an investment and what a discount rate is).
- You are up for a challenge and ready to tackle it with a team of other highly motivated peers.
Jun.-Prof. Dr. Maximilian Schreiter
Junior Professor | Junior Professorship in Entrepreneurship and Technology Transfer
We are very proud that our case study competition this year is a joint project with outstanding partners from the private equity and M&A consulting sectors. Both Oliver Wyman and Ardian are known not only for their great expertise and global success, but also for their special understanding of entrepreneurial challenges. Students who accept our challenge will gain a deeper understanding of the fascination but also the risks of corporate transactions in two intensive days and by that make many new contacts. I am really looking forward to it!
Lea Gruber
Associate | BCG, HHL alumna
As a former participant in the HHL Finance Case Challenge, I’m especially looking forward to returning to the HHL campus—this time on the other side. It’s a great opportunity to work with talented Bachelor students from top universities on a challenging M&A case, share insights from my consulting experience, and connect with motivated future professionals.
Max Dolata
Director | Ardian
As participant of the HHL Finance Case Challenge, you can expect to experience firsthand how a Private Equity fund analyses an investment case in a real-life setting. Accompanied with a short introduction of theoretical background by HHL professors, you get valuable insights into the very practically oriented teaching at HHL. Last but not least you will have lots of fun and good times connecting with Oliver Wyman and Ardian as well as HHL students.
All facts at a glance
When?
- Friday, November 14, 2025, 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. (CET)
- Saturday, November 15, 2025, 09:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. (CET)
Where?
HHL Campus, Jahnallee 59, 04109 Leipzig
Application deadline
October 26, 2025
We are looking forward to your application!
Please note: The workshop will be held in English.
Contact
Jana Vogel
Tel.: +49 341 9851-611
Email: financechallenge@hhl.de
Johanna Echterhoff
HHL alumna / Head of Finance | Elmos
The HHL Finance Case Challenge was a perfect opportunity to connect with like-minded people and to further discover what the Master in Management | Finance will look like. I am looking forward to more HHL spirit during my studies at HHL.
Maximilian Harr
HHL alumnus / Private Equity Analyst | Bridgepoint
Personally, I really liked the fact that we could work together in diverse and international groups to complete a challenging case on valuing and structuring an M&A deal. Since many participants turned out to become future HHL students it was also a great way to start networking and getting to know HHL better.