Houlihan Lokey reputation?
What is the overall reputation of Houlihan Lokey?
Which industry groups are the most prestigious?
Is there a better choice in MM?
It looks like they are expanding after the deal with Orix.
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very strong in restructuring and mid-market deals. not a big player, but are dominant in their niche, and they pay well.
I'm seriously considering restructuring or the ADG (Aerospace/Defense) group.
I'm guessing 80 hrs/week. Is that a good assumption?
I've heard they pay well, any specifics? What about exit opportunities?
I just crossed the two year mark, and I'm seriously considering a change. Either new job soon or MBA....havent yet decided. Any advice?
Mr. Underdog -- did you receive an offer from the ADG group? If so, I really want to speak with you as I have an offer out from them. Their secretary said they had an offer out to someone but they didn't accept b/c of location reasons (she didn't really elaborate).
There has been a lot of discussion about HLHZ. They are a good shop but there are other middle market firms that provide as good or better experience (think Piper, Harris Williams, Lincoln Partners, etc.).
Depends on the office. Some of the regionals range from 80-90 on a regular workweek to 115. HLHZ has a bad reputation for being a total sweatshop (I have heard their DC office is especially bad). I know a few people that are in the ADG and general corporate finance group in Los Angeles and they are regularly there past 2AM. I got an email the other day from a friend in HLHZ's LA Corp Fin at 4AM PST.
As far as pay, in any given year expect a small haircut to street (5-10k). This year, however, most M&A shops killed, so HLHZ paid street 80/100/120.
Are the Aerospace & Defense Groups located only in D.C. and LA? Or do they also work out of NY?
Also, does working in that group provide good exit opportunities to either A&D PE or corp. development at a top A&D company?
"To Know Me Is To Love Me"-Jebus Price
As for ADG they are only located in LA and DC -- I don't think they have any operations in NYC. As for exit opps, they work a lot with PE shops so that leads me to believe that they have decent exits exist.
The associates in the ADG in LA are getting KILLED right now. They don't have any dedicated anlaysts and are currently drawing from the generalist pool.
Can someone elaborate more on the general environment at HLHZ in LA and the ADG? Beyond the hours, are the people there nice, honest, etc... (i.e. not assholes)?
Sorry, that anonymous post above is mine...
Environment in LA I think depends group by group and floor by floor, but from what I gather it's very social and pretty tight knit. At 4AM you're either at each other's throats or being best friends, so I guess that's a good thing.
Don't know about exits for ADG specifically, but in general HLHZ feeds into alot of MM shops (between 300-900mm AUM).
The LA ADG will be a nightmare to start. Expect 110 hour weeks for your first 10-12 weeks, minimum. If you manage to get caught up, the hours should decline. NUMEROUS people have declined this position by the way, so if you want something (reloc, signing, 2nd yr status), just ask.
The ADG MD is nice guy, with lots of industry experience. Not a career banker. I believe one associate and a VP are ex-military.
Again though HLHZ is a complete sweatshop...
Ha-ha. I hear you with respect to it being a complete sweatshop. Since you seem to have garnered much info on this group, there are a couple of other questions (thanks in advance -- I'll take you out for beers!!). As for working a lot, I care and don't care. Compared to where I work now, it has to be better. I'd rather work for solid/nice people a 100 hours/week rather than 60-70 hours/week with a bunch of losers/total losers who think they're the shit, honestly!
That was me above ^^^
Money is good. Pays on par or close to top street salary at least at the analyst and associate level because of the volumn.
Ranked #1 for middle market $500million deal range.
Long hours like GS MS hours.
People are chill but work need to get done so it's a tough environment.
How's HLHZ's reputation in M&A?
what do they pay associates?
I don't think its quite fair comparing HLHZ with Lincoln Partners, Harris, Piper etc...this shop has a much better/higher profile reputation.
Associates 90k with 155k bonus (year 1) - at least that's what my bro got in LA.
Then you either work for HLHZ or don't know the middle market.
HLHZ is probably a slight step upwards from Harris William or Baird, two of their main competitors in the MM in Chicago. I don't think Lincoln even compares. For their niche (MM under 500mm, probably more like 300mm), they are tops.
HLHZ has a pretty good reputation in Chicago. A notch above Baird
friendly people. not stuffy and not bigs egos. they pay street too.
Do they hire analysts who have no prior I-Banking experience?
no not in my experience, unless you're from a top-tier school
If you have no prior banking experience, to enter at the analyst level (pre-MBA) you need to come in with the incoming 1st year analysts. Recruiting for 1st years begins in the fall prior to the summer start (about 10 months).
Sorry for the late response.
Two aspects of this: 1) they likely have a lot of projects that need to be done that are being delayed. For instance, I beleive the analyst writes the industry update, at least the plastics and packaging analyst did. Regardless, I can guarentee the associates and vps have a list of bs piling up they would like to heap on you, but can't give to a generalist. 2) yes, learning the ropes.
Based on what I have gathered, at least 2.
Honestly, it depends on how much you want the position on what you ask for, I am just saying based on how long they have been looking, you have some negotiating room.
Of course, especially if you want to be in aerospace and defence.
To your last point, while a number of the people there are nice guys (I know a couple) and the majority are at least civil, there are also a lot of people that are arrogant and obsessive-compulsive. I wouldn't use the word nice and Houhlihan in the same sentence. Solid, yes, but not nice.
Do you think I could e-mail you with some questions about HLHZ's A&D group? I'm very, very interested in it. I go to a target school and will be entering my senior year this fall, I just completed a banking internship at another bank and would like to talk if it's ok with you. Just drop me your email here if that's cool. Thanks in advance.
"everyone's heard of HLHZ, but till date I'd not heard of Harris Williams, and I've been in banking for 5 years!" -- you haven't heard of them because you're in banking, not PE. They practically own the middle-market. If you worked in PE you'd see their name on a deal nearly every week...
Just hoping to get in touch with someone who is knowledgable about HLHZ, and in particular, their A&D group. Drop an e-mail address or whatever if possible. Thanks in advance.
Dude, HLHZ is a chop shop
excelvba @ gmail.com
I'm hoping some of you who are knowledgeable can provide some insight into the DC office ADG group. I have a phone interview Monday with a VP. What can I expect for the interview? I don't have prior i-banking experience and am kinda freaked out its going to be super technical.
Also, what can anyone tell me about the hours, office, culture etc. Thanks in advance.
Phone interview poster: How did it go? Has HLHZ entered into full recruiting mode for full time positions 2008 already?
Candidate for first year 07 analyst class. can somebody provide me with some info (beyond that i can find on the web using google)?
Candidate for first year 07 analyst class. can somebody provide me with some info (beyond that i can find on the web using google)?
I don't know about that. The position was for an experienced hire candidate - I'm assuming would come in as second or third year analyst. It went fine just a basic phone screening.
are you still pursuing HLHZ?
Thinking about it, but not 100% sure IB is for me. At any rate they said about 3 weeks on making a decision for who to invite for the next round. It has only been about a week....
Has anyone heard back from them regarding 2nd round interview?
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