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How do you discuss the company's recent deals in an interview?
 

arguewithatree's picture
IB
 
Points)
 on 1/1/13 at 2:34pm
The Academic Job Interview.jpg

I have a few interviews coming up with specific industry groups and was researching some recent/big deals to bring up if asked during the interview. How is it best to discuss their recent deals? Should I pick the biggest/most publicized deal of the year or the most recent deal? And how much should I read up on? I don't want to say too much because the interviewer who worked on the deal will obviously know a ton more than me.

jointhebank's picture

I used one or two deals as

O
(Monkey, 65
 
Points)
 on 1/1/13 at 1:52pm

I used one or two deals as example for my motivation to join investment banking. She then asked me why the deal failed (I used BAE EADS) and what I think about it etc. the way she spoke suggested she was working on that deal. In another interview, the MD simply asked me how I keep up with M&A deals and to tell him about the ones I find interesting, to which I said "news, FT" and forgot to mention service like Zephyr - that I was using, and even took print outs with me.

You can pick any deal, of course it is better if it is recent/significant to the firm. I think deals that failed have more to talk about.

Being a prospective monkey I am bound to post stupid comments due to my lack of expert knowledge. I implore you to correct me harshly or constructively, and I will appreciate any learning opportunity.

upod01's picture

I had the question a month

IB
(Orangutan, 276
 
Points)
 on 1/1/13 at 9:19pm

I had the question a month ago and after doing a mock interview with banker he provided me with advice on how to approach it.

First you want to covert the terms of the deal. Was it an all cash deal, or did they finance a portion of it using debt. You also want mention the premium the paid to acquire the target. Lastly you want to mention who the lead underwriter were.

If you really want to impress them provide the reason for the deal and what are the plans after the acquisition, and any background information you might have.

When luck shuts the door you gotta come in through the window - Doyle Brunson

TechBanking's picture

Don't bring it up unless

EN
(King Kong, 1,146
 
Points)
 on 1/1/13 at 11:12pm

Don't bring it up unless asked specifically about it. Every time an interviewee has ever asked me about a deal, I was never involved with it. When I was at a BB, it was usually something that my group would never be involved with, and at the boutique, it was always a deal that I had no part of (and, to be honest, didn't give a crap about). In banking, if you aren't on the deal, you just don't care.

arguewithatree's picture

I'm interviewing for energy

IB
 
Points)
 on 1/2/13 at 5:48am

I'm interviewing for energy groups and wanted to incorporate specific deals the group at worked on into my "why X" answer. I've talked to a few people at the firms, and they really seem to pride themselves on the recent large M&A deals that have been coming through. Maybe I won't volunteer it, but in case they ask I'd like to have 1 or 2 deals in mind and at least know basics.
So it would be good to pick 1 large M&A deal that I know the group has worked on and know the seller's EV, type of financing, etc? I also don't have access to bloomberg or capIQ right now (not at school), aside from sifting through dealbook, how can I find recent deals the group has worked on?

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