Vista Equity Partners - Insights on this firm?

I am wondering if anyone can provide some insights on this firm. I am graduating and have an interview with them for an analyst role.

Nothing came out in my search process on the forum so any advice and information would be appreciated.

Thanks guys!

 

legit firm, I hear good things - extremely solid returns - software-focused (basically exclusively software) PE in SF, just opened an Austin office relatively recently. Pride themselves on generating returns / value through other means in addition to (or maybe instead of?) financial engineering - see their website for more on that.

 
DaCarez:
legit firm, I hear good things - extremely solid returns - software-focused (basically exclusively software) PE in SF, just opened an Austin office relatively recently. Pride themselves on generating returns / value through other means in addition to (or maybe instead of?) financial engineering - see their website for more on that.

Thanks for the info, DaCarez. do you have any suggestion on how to prepare for interviews?

 

Is the interview with the firm? or is it with the search firm they hired?

I interviewed through the headhunter they hired like 6 months ago. I can't believe they are still looking for 1 analyst, lol.

Array
 
Cries:
Is the interview with the firm? or is it with the search firm they hired?

I interviewed through the headhunter they hired like 6 months ago. I can't believe they are still looking for 1 analyst, lol.

You're confusing their undergrad recruiting with their pre-MBA recruiting, which is happening right now.
 
Cries:
Is the interview with the firm? or is it with the search firm they hired?

I interviewed through the headhunter they hired like 6 months ago. I can't believe they are still looking for 1 analyst, lol.

Hi Cries,

I've already talked to the HH they hired and was told that I will be expecting a call early this coming week. I guess they are still looking for analysts. Do you have time suggestions as how to prepare? I have done some IB interviews with BBs but not private equity. Thank you!

 

VEP also has an office in chicago. they don't compete with Silver Lake or any of the other major west coast megafunds for deals -- they're entirely middle market oriented. from a MM tech PE perspective, i'd put them a notch below Francisco Partners (although both have been struggling). as mentioned, they have a pretty specific niche, although software is a pretty big vertical. the junior people seem great. interview is standard, expect a diagnostics / modeling exam even if you're coming out of undergrad.

 
Best Response
<span class=keyword_link><a href=//www.wallstreetoasis.com/finance-dictionary/what-is-alpha>alpha</a></span> mail:
VEP also has an office in chicago. they don't compete with Silver Lake or any of the other major west coast megafunds for deals -- they're entirely middle market oriented. from a MM tech PE perspective, i'd put them a notch below Francisco Partners (although both have been struggling). as mentioned, they have a pretty specific niche, although software is a pretty big vertical. the junior people seem great. interview is standard, expect a diagnostics / modeling exam even if you're coming out of undergrad.

Thanks Alpha. I assume the diagnostics you talked about is the psychometric test? I've already passed that one if that is the case. For me I just want to find a platform where I can learn as much as I can about modeling and investment analysis so I can carry my skill sets elsewhere after two years. Do you have any suggestions on how to prepare for the modeling exams?

 
humble_dude:
Ricqles:
They have a SaaS focused inside the software vertical, looking at recurring revenue model.

You need to demonstrate your knowledge in that specific vertical during the interview

Thanks Ricqles, any suggestions on how to prepare?

Pretty soon you will learn that instead of asking questions on how to prepare, the better thing is going on Google and start digging about the industry then ask specific questions

But anyways, Google, equity research report, talk to your friends in tech IB, look around for ibank's software equity report as there are a few of them out there that covers exclusively on the software sector. They don't expect you to be an expert but you need to know the rationale of evolution in the software industry and who the big players are and what they have been up to.

 
Yakehito:
gdxc12:
Anyone know how VEP's online assessments are structured? Advice for practice material?

Pretty difficult... number and letter sequences, vocab, reason... be prepared for the personality test which is mind boggling at times and its way longer than 2 hours

Spot on. Tricky at times, but overall pretty fun if you enjoy those kind of problems.

Anyone looking for a warm-up should look at the Standford Binet or MENSA workout tests. That being said, it is basically an IQ test, so prepping in a crunch won't be much help.

 

A former analyst from my group joined Vista pretty recently. It seems like a respectable MM shop, very tech-focused. There are a number of well-pedigreed associates and analysts (GS TMT, MS Tech, ML M&A, Wharton/Stanford undergrad).

 

Why do you ask ? Vista Equity Partners closed on their fourth $3.5 Bn fund last month.

They have a portfolio company support operational team that resembles Andreessen Horowitz's.

When asking about compensation people need to realize two things:

  1. It's market-related.
  2. How much are/were you making ? Until you tell them how much you are making, you won't get a figure.
Winners bring a bigger bag than you do. I have a degree in meritocracy.
 

Assuming you mean the tech firm in Chicago / SF. The interview will actually have a decent amount of technicals. Took an interview there myself and know someone working there full time. Make sure you understand software companies economics (aka the SaaS model vs. licensing and service model, and the recurring revenue nature that each provides). Why software / tech is also a very big question for them, they will hammer you home on this one. It is a little more industry heavy than most PE interviews, so be prepared for that as mentioned, but other than that will be mostly fit based.

 

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