Mezz fund interview

Hey guys,

I'm a 2nd-year DCM analyst with an interview lined up at a small (MM mezz/PE fund -- they invest across the capital structure, though I get the sense they do more mezz than straight equity. Anyways, I know what kind of questions may cover PE, but don't know what to expect for mezzanine debt-related questions. My background is high-grade with some select high-yield/secured financings.

On a related note, what is day-to-day like?

Thanks!

 

Cash Flow modeling is important and knowing about covenants is also a good starting point. Mezz is generally pretty straight forward so you probably have the necessary skills to be successful, so don't be overly concerned.

I will try to get back and write some more, but I have to cut out of the office before this storm hits. Here is a link that looks like it had some solid information in it.

http://www.streetofwalls.com/articles/private-equity/recruiting-intervi…

Regards

"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant, it's just that they know so much that isn't so." - Ronald Reagan
 

I'll tackle question 1.

Couple comments: 1) I count $115MM of sources for a $100MM purchase price. (Fees and expenses?) 2) This sounds like a homework problem, not an interview question. 3) The exact IRR to the sub-debt holders will depend on when/if a liquidity event occurs inside of 5 years.

Anyways, that said, let's assume there is no liquidity event inside of 5 years. Let's also use round numbers since we don't have the benefit of a computer/financial calculator (I think this is impossible to get 100% accurately without one).

Your cash and PIK payments on the sub-debt get you a combined 14% IRR, and then you get a little extra boost from the upfront fees, basically 1.5% but "amortized" over 5 years for IRR purposes, so your IRR on the cash the mezz guys have actually lent is ~14.3%. (7%+7%+1.5%/5)

Now we need to look at the warrants. 5% of the equity is approximately $2MM of value today. These are issued at a very low strike price (called "penny warrants"), so basically they are (free) equity. At a 27% IRR, that $2MM is worth $6.6MM in 5 years. So you get another $6.6MM on your $17MM investment in Year 5.

This is where it gets tricky without a computer or financial calculator. Normally I'd ballpark it and say $6.6MM/$17MM=38%/5 years=7.5% per year, and add that to my 14.3% for a ~22% all-in IRR, but that's a little high. A quick check on Excel shows the actual IRR is 19.2%.

I've hit a wall without a computer but hopefully someone else here can explain an Excel-less shortcut, or maybe I'm thinking about the warrants wrong.

 
mrb87:

I'll tackle question 1.

Couple comments:
1) I count $115MM of sources for a $100MM purchase price. (Fees and expenses?)
2) This sounds like a homework problem, not an interview question.
3) The exact IRR to the sub-debt holders will depend on when/if a liquidity event occurs inside of 5 years.

Anyways, that said, let's assume there is no liquidity event inside of 5 years. Let's also use round numbers since we don't have the benefit of a computer/financial calculator (I think this is impossible to get 100% accurately without one).

Your cash and PIK payments on the sub-debt get you a combined 14% IRR, and then you get a little extra boost from the upfront fees, basically 1.5% but "amortized" over 5 years for IRR purposes, so your IRR on the cash the mezz guys have actually lent is ~14.3%. (7%+7%+1.5%/5)

Now we need to look at the warrants. 5% of the equity is approximately $2MM of value today. These are issued at a very low strike price (called "penny warrants"), so basically they are (free) equity. At a 27% IRR, that $2MM is worth $6.6MM in 5 years. So you get another $6.6MM on your $17MM investment in Year 5.

This is where it gets tricky without a computer or financial calculator. Normally I'd ballpark it and say $6.6MM/$17MM=38%/5 years=7.5% per year, and add that to my 14.3% for a ~22% all-in IRR, but that's a little high. A quick check on Excel shows the actual IRR is 19.2%.

I've hit a wall without a computer but hopefully someone else here can explain an Excel-less shortcut, or maybe I'm thinking about the warrants wrong.

Are you saying this looks like a homework problem because the level of difficulty? Seems sort of ridiculous to ask someone to answer both questions in 15 minutes. Took a third of that time for me to just sort out who the players were and what the deal structure was given how they wrote it.

 
<span class=keyword_link><a href=/company/fairvalue-advisors target=_blank>FairValue</a></span>:

Anyone can explain the difference between questions 1 and 2?

Effective cost of giving up the equity if their return hurdle is 27% isn't the actual return that equity goes on to earn.
"After you work on Wall Street it’s a choice, would you rather work at McDonalds or on the sell-side? I would choose McDonalds over the sell-side.” - David Tepper
 

I was able to take a picture with my phone while trying to solve the problem and tried to provide as much of the original question as possible. They said I could ball park the IRR and gave me a financial calculator to solve it. I ended up with a blended IRR of 15%. Right off the bat, I knew it was on the lower side and did something wrong when I was perhaps including the warrant returns.

FairValue - I had the same issue regarding question 1 and 2. I thought they referred to the same thing.

 

Well in general I am just trying to understand the advantages and disadvantages of different financing structures - e.g. I have done research independently and so far no guide or book has illustrated the advantages of using for instance Floating Rate Notes over a term loan B. Therefore it would be great to understand the mechanics of the LevFin market and I am just asking for fellow WSO members here with more experience in the market to share their pearls of wisdom on the dynamics as well as current trends, thats all.

 
Best Response
trionfatore:

E.g. can anyone answer the questions in this link on the following case study?
http://people.stern.nyu.edu/igiddy/cases/cognis_se...

1. Why would a company choose to finance with second lien debt rather than conventional mezzanine notes with warrants?
2. This deal was a refinancing. Could second lien debt be used for a leveraged buyout?

  1. I can think of two things off the top of my head: a) they don't want to give away equity upside through the warrants; and b) noteholders might want to "move up" in the capital structure as compensation for div recap. Although I'm confused by the writer of the case study using "2nd lien" and "subordinated" interchangeably, which, even if he just means "subordinated [to the 1st lien debt]" is a horribly confusing way of putting it for anyone in the business. Lastly, maybe as c) the incurrence covenants might be more palatable to the sponsors than the maintenance ones depending on their plans for the company.

  2. I don't see why not?

 

I don't understand how people apply to internships they have no idea of. (it sounds unlikely to me that you were approached by them). The search function works well and I remember there were threads about it. I would recommend you to understand how it works for a mezz fund and how does it differ from a PE fund. Understand the basic mechanics of mezz debts etc. Personally don't think they will grill you with hard tech questions. But if it's a BO position then you shouldn't worry too much

 

I'll ignore your rather large generalization at the beginning, for I was actually targeted by an associate, because my initial internship with a PWM group fell through. It was completely out of the blue...of course I'm not going to deny the phone call so I'm going to prep and try to see how much I can possibly learn in 24 hours.

Otherwise, good feedback, thank you.

 

Know whether a bond will be at a premium or a discount if yield is X and coupon is Y. Understand where mezz sits in the capital structure and the risks and benefits of investing in such a piece of paper. Read up on maintenance vs incurrence covenants. At the very least bring these up and ask questions you have. At your age they will respect your curiosity and hunger to learn vs expecting you to have it all down.

 

I'm reviewing how the three statements link and debt metrics etc..I've definietly learned more than I thought in about six hours. I'm hoping this isn't overkill but I feel like it could be. His email said just a "call"...so it may be more fit oriented and I can only hope I don't get grilled. I just don't picture it going like that...

For perspective, and yes, this is highly superficial, but how would a mezz fund look on my resume? This entire opportunity I have is a result of losing a chance with a PWM firm...so I wonder (for potential IB anyway) how this would be viewed?

 
FCP4:
For perspective, and yes, this is highly superficial, but how would a mezz fund look on my resume?

For a sophomore, very impressive. Much better than PWM if you are thinking about moving to banking next.

Good luck.

"For I am a sinner in the hands of an angry God. Bloody Mary full of vodka, blessed are you among cocktails. Pray for me now and at the hour of my death, which I hope is soon. Amen."
 

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