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mba_im's picture
IB
(Chimp, 6
 
Points)
 on 2/15/12 at 2:53pm

What is the opinion of the BAML Tech group in Palo Alto? I am interning this summer @ BAML out of b-school and really interested in the tech industry, so I am considering going to this group. There doesn't appear to be much information available about this group online. Is the tech group separate from the media/telecom groups? Any downside to going west for banking vs. new york?

Thx.

Tags:
BigBucks's picture

I think Tech/Media banking

IB
 
Points)
  on 2/15/12 at 4:24pm

I think Tech/Media banking are actually better overall on the West Coast. someone pls correct me if i'm wrong

seedy underbelly's picture

baml palo alto isn't the

IB
(King Kong, 1,100
 
Points)
  on 2/15/12 at 6:26pm

baml palo alto isn't the best. but you can certainly do a lot worse. and yes, being out west for tech is generally better.

masterg's picture

Very few analysts stay there

(Baboon, 173
 
Points)
  on 2/16/12 at 4:29pm

Very few analysts stay there for longer than 1 year. Most associates stay for the long term, because they have few other options. The culture in the tech group is a lot better than the tech M&A group. Expect long hours in both groups generally (90-100+ consistently). Both groups do lots of pitching - maybe 75% of their time is spent pitching vs. working on actual deals. I know several people who worked there as analysts and associates.

masterg's picture

Also, palo alto is the most

(Baboon, 173
 
Points)
  on 2/16/12 at 4:30pm

Also, palo alto is the most boring place in the world for a young person to live in. Expect to have no social life and if you ever do drive to san francisco, expect to be called back all the time at night after leaving work!

hootyhoo's picture

bump

(Monkey, 39
 
Points)
  on 2/18/12 at 10:05pm

bump

Tennis Champ's picture

Lots of mixed sentiment about

(Monkey, 30
 
Points)
  on 2/19/12 at 12:36am

Lots of mixed sentiment about these guys on the Street. The coverage group (tech) is made up of a mix of cool guys and nerds. Palo Alto definitely sucks compared to SF when you're in your 20s.

Overall, my impression echoes above: you can definitely do worse, but BAML still gets deals done.

hootyhoo's picture

bump

(Monkey, 39
 
Points)
  on 2/29/12 at 12:57am

bump

Ricqles's picture

agree with above, it's a bad

O
(King Kong, 1,230
 
Points)
  on 2/29/12 at 10:28am

agree with above, it's a bad group but not great either. They pitch A LOT

-.-'s picture

I've worked with them. If

 
Points)
  on 2/29/12 at 2:29pm

I've worked with them. If you're interested in tech, then of course west coast is the way to go. There is definitely dealflow going on, but expect to be doing mostly tech equity offerings (unless you're joining the M&A group in PA of course) and as a result, A LOT of pitching. Tech group is all generalists, mostly non media telecom on this coast. And def, from my years in PA, it's not so fun of a place ... old person town. In terms of perspective it really matters what you want to be doing. Equity offerings make money definitely, but if you're looking to do landscape changing tech deals, I would think twice. That said, the culture doesn't seem too bad and all the people I've worked with and met from the group have been great.

Cartwright's picture

Tennis Champ wrote: The

IB
(King Kong, 1,664
 
Points)
  on 2/29/12 at 3:18pm
Tennis Champ:

The coverage group is made up of a mix of cool guys and nerds.

In banking?!

"It's all ball bearings nowadays." Irwin Fletcher