Detailed information for Lev Fin IB group?

I am an incoming first year analyst in IB and am trying to get into the Lev Fin group when I start (I will start as a generalist) - I am not a finance major so I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for preparing for this group (i.e. leveraged finance books, websites, classes to take next semester, etc)? I have already started trying to network with members of the group but I don't want to embarrass myself if they start asking me technical questions.

24 Comments
 

Could you guys recommend any material in which I can read to prepare on some of these topics? I have a ton of IB guides, but they really focus on traditional banking and valuation/accounting type questions. Nothing like you noted above

"An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." - Benjamin Franklin
 
StudentLoanBackedSecurities

Could you guys recommend any material in which I can read to prepare on some of these topics? I have a ton of IB guides, but they really focus on traditional banking and valuation/accounting type questions. Nothing like you noted above

https://www.lcdcomps.com/d/pdf/hyprimer.pdf

https://www.lcdcomps.com/lcd/na/2012/09/07/2012%20Guide%20To%20US%20Loa…

http://www.macabacus.com/valuation/lbo/overview

http://www.macabacus.com/terms/original-issue-discount

http://www.macabacus.com/terms/payment-in-kind

 
Best Response

anything related to debt. LBO questions are bound to come up in interviews. Try to understand the overall picture with LBOs. Some shops ask you to create a paper LBO model, but I didn't come across any that asked me to do so during summer recruiting, only during FT. Paper LBO model is nothing crazy - given 5 year projection, you just list out some assumptions, spread out cash flow over few years, and exit. Do some quick math to get to a ball park IRR number. That's the most technical lev fin interviews would get in my opinion.

 
goblan StudentLoanBackedSecurities:

Could you guys recommend any material in which I can read to prepare on some of these topics? I have a ton of IB guides, but they really focus on traditional banking and valuation/accounting type questions. Nothing like you noted above

https://www.lcdcomps.com/d/pdf/hyprimer.pdf

https://www.lcdcomps.com/lcd/na/2012/09/07/2012%20...

lbo/overview" href="http://www.macabacus.com/valuation/lbo/overview" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" sl-processed="1">http://www.macabacus.com/valuation/lbo/overview

http://www.macabacus.com/terms/original-issue-disc...

http://www.macabacus.com/terms/payment-in-kind

These are very helpful, thank-you

"An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." - Benjamin Franklin
 

Are you actually on a desk or in a group with cubicles? I always find it interesting when some banks have groups and some act more like traders.

 

I didn't have any individual interviews with an analyst. In the two super days I had, it was mostly associates or an associate + analyst. Here the associate would lead the discussion and the analyst would mostly observe. So, I didn't get to build much of a rapport with them at the time. Plus, the entire process was drawn out over nearly three months, and I can barely remember who I spoke to.

 

Brushing up on your general accounting skills is always a good idea.

Other than that, read through some leveraged finance debt primers. If you can, do your best at familiarizing yourself with the basics of the diff instruments (Pro rata, TLBs, HY, etc) and where they fall in seniority within the capital structure (essential for LBO modeling).

It would also be helpful to learn the various pros and cons of each piece of financing (costs (interest rates and amortization) and flexibility (prepayability, maintenance vs incurrence covenants), etc.

It's helpful to learn the basic differences between positive and negative covenants but really this will come after many fun hours pouring through OMs and credit agreements.

If the above is already old news then congrats, you're in an awesome spot. If it only sounds vaguely familiar (or completely Latin), then don't stress it, you'll pick it up fast.

Feel free to PM me with any questions.

"I know you think you understand what you thought I said but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant."
 

Perferendis est quisquam error voluptatem possimus iure labore. Sed animi hic qui. Aliquam et ut beatae necessitatibus. Saepe eos quisquam et quod.

Facilis voluptates nesciunt natus id sequi sed. Repudiandae beatae recusandae laborum non.

Laboriosam vel eum assumenda culpa sapiente voluptatem. Cupiditate quis enim pariatur. Rem consequuntur quibusdam consequatur libero ea odit. Quis et quia nemo repellendus harum cupiditate. Id reprehenderit non velit doloremque dolor dolorem fugit. Sint possimus temporibus et illum sed quia. Et harum consequatur pariatur sit nam voluptates consequatur.

Enim nam consequuntur qui aspernatur eius et. Modi et ut placeat ea rerum numquam officia. Et perspiciatis dolorum dolore error dolorem libero adipisci. Dolores id quo ipsam eius.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (67) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”