Best Corp dev industry?
Everyone knows tech is the most sought after industry to work CD at but I have heard almost nothing about other industries that are attractive… any ideas?
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I'm at an independent power producer and I kind of like my industry. It's in renewable energy
What’s your background?
Currently interviewing for such roles. I assume you're mostly doing JVs and occasional asset acquisitions/divestitures?
Also, do you often see former infra/transaction advisory people in this role?
Are you acquiring development assets or post-COD assets?
I'm at a large IPP and my group (structured finance) sits with the M&A team. Seems like an interesting mix of targets from some acres of secured land with an interconnection agreement all the way to operational asset portfolios and even smaller platforms.
I'm in the development team. We develop assets as well as do portfolio acquisitions of operating assets (ie post cod). Most time is being spent on early to mid stage development assets as the returns are much higher there. cOD assets have been derisked significant and you make a low return on them. My background is in traditional ibanking (but unrelated to pu or oil and gas)
Pharmaceutical without question.
Healthcare rollups on the services side.
Curious to hear your reasoning
Fairly easy to evaluate medical practice groups looking to sell and if you have a lot of sponsor money at your disposal, plenty of deal opportunity. Have seen doctors take deals for their practices where they got fleeced (doctors for the most part are not business minded).
Only downside is you're probably buying real estate / assets that need to be updated. Was part of a PE-backed retail healthcare company that focused heavily on organic growth and saw some really interesting RE acquisition / development work. We had a certain 'brand' that we wanted to establish in each location (by the time I left, we had 100+ locations, probably closer to 200 by now). Our inorganic growth via acquisitions / mergers on the other hand didn't need much changes as they were already attractive businesses / assets.
Dentalcorp?
Depends on how diverse your role is imo. If it’s strictly M&A for companies then I don’t know. But I work in energy and I work on internal projects and strategic initiatives on top of traditional M&A.
I find it very interesting as our team touches so many functions in the company while still getting deal work. The visibility is awesome with senior leadership and strategy functions.
Is this in renewables?
Yes
In renewables as well. You mind sharing comp? Curious what market is in the industry for others
The datapoints for renewables are all over the place. Especially location and benefits.
it sounds like he’s at a weird platform given renewables companies dont normally have strategy / M&A / assets in one group
The other replier nailed it on the head. My work doesn't fit directly into the realm of corp dev, and I think when I factored experience and my location it wouldn't be a meaningful datapoint. To put it another way, my role and location are both outliers and aren't indicative of the broader industry.
I'm probably paid less than market, started with 1 year of experience. But it scales favorably, and I live somewhere cheap.
I’m in A&D, but role also includes strategy/strategic initiatives. Work with execs internally and also engage/lead convos with target company management teams. Also currently working on entering a new foreign market. Really work the whole gauntlet of inorganic “tools”.
I find our portfolio fascinating. What’s not to love about seeking external capabilities to support prototyping fighter jets, UAVs, or the newest green technology? Add the aspect of sensitive programs others won’t know about, it’s more fascinating than a pure tech play IMO (though we actually partner with many “tech” firms).
IMO, if you’re just wanting to focus on transacting, you’ll be better off at a PE portco or other growthy small/med company for a higher tempo.
This is exactly the type of thing I’d be looking for actually. Never thought abt A&D for Corp dev but that seems fascinating. Do most companies in the industry hire only after 2 or so years of experience in a related field?
Why FIG? Seems like CPG and M&E would pay more than FIG, but curious on your experience/rationale
It’s really hard to be definitive as too many criterias out there.
On pay? Roll up m&a story backed by Pe could work well.
Biotech co that works out well usually works well for all those involved…
I didn’t like the roll up sectors as felt very repetitive to me. Find owner / founder, pay 5x, etc.
I work in pharma, every deal structure is different. Every portfolio is unique too. It works for me, ghat requires me to develop my skills on various fronts. Mix of work on BD asset deals up to mega cap deals.
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