How do MM shops get mandated?

As the title says, I was wondering how MM shops source their sell-side M&A deals?

I might be missing an obvious answer, but their clients are not large enough to issue an RfP and they don't have the intel some of the lending banks or accountancy offices with MM M&A operations have.

So do deals only come in via the network of the senior partners or are there other ways in which these shops source their deals?

Thanks!

5 Comments
 
Most Helpful

The network and relationships, especially within the financial sponsor community. The middle market is a different game all together. Potential clients (financial sponsors) want to understand sector and transaction experience, thoughts regarding valuation, and the universe of potential acquirers, including relationships with these parties. In this space, no one gives a damn about term loans and credit committees because financing has largely been commoditized, especially in the current rate environment. Conversations concerning staple financing might be more relevant, but no platform is running through the middle market winning mandates because of their trillion dollar balance sheet
 

 

As per the above but also what you typically find (in the UK at least) is that if they are not sponsor owned, but are of the size to get a bank involved, then they do often have someone who has done a deal in the past e.g a Chairman, NED etc. 
 

Irrespective of the above, owners will still want a bake off-nobody who is successful in life would ever only meet one adviser e.g you wouldn’t only meet one estate agent if you were selling your house.

Having said all of that, an accountancy firm recently got a sell side mandate when the owners googled M&A adviser in their sector, and this firm came up first!!

 

Vel et qui beatae quasi quam a. Non est veritatis aliquid est in. Fugiat vero sed et cumque accusamus.

Et corporis repellat tempora id. Consequatur sed vitae omnis cumque. Qui doloribus laboriosam eligendi soluta incidunt. Eaque excepturi libero amet explicabo aut. Sunt voluptatum consectetur quasi et voluptate perspiciatis.

Veritatis expedita aut nulla ipsum repellendus consequatur ut. Temporibus adipisci sed ullam est. Quibusdam dolorum libero perferendis et voluptate.

Eos porro quia assumenda doloremque. Enim numquam culpa eum quis nulla. Quibusdam deserunt inventore et quo velit. Voluptate distinctio labore quibusdam ex.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.2%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.2%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (80) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
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...”