Hello, I have an M&A interview in a week with no previous technical skills or knowledge, where do i start? This is not an IB position so I'm not sure if I should be studying IB technicals or is there specific sites to study just M&A technicals. Also not sure if I will be getting asked non-M&A technical questions so just lmk what and how I should study.
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is this like an M&A brokerage shop? can you expand on the position
Internal M&A for a buy-side firm
BWIS merger modelling review is your best friend here. If it’s buy-side M&A you need to understand topics like: how goodwill happens, deferred tax liabilities, how synergies are created, most accretive to dilutive methods (Cash is always most accretive, second is debt, last is stock), when stock is most accretive (when the company is trading at an all time high so you don’t have to issue as many shares).
You may have to do a Paper M&A question so prepare for those. Make sure you most importantly understand conceptuals. Don’t memorize your way through this and you’ll be fine. Good luck!
If starting at absolute zero.
Start with accounting, the three financial statements, what each contain, and how they link basics.
And learn how changing of any accounts affect the three statement. Be comfortable with this first - basically the accounting section of banking interview guides.
Then learn the valuation methods - both relative and intrinsic. How each is implemented.
Only then, dive into the M&A questions, learn at least a basic merger model and accretion/dilution. Otherwise nothing will make sense.
Think of it as an opportunity to practice instead of an end-all opportunity. Given the time limit, you’ll be more relaxed and efficient if you think of it as a practice interview. And you’ll be a lot better prepped for other interviews down the road.
Don’t panic, get a guide, strategize, and learn efficiently.
To be honest you’re f*cked on technicals.
I would recommend investing your time in finding a nice bottle of whiskey. Hopefully by the 4th glass the interviewer will like you and you’ll be in for the ride.
Got the job two weeks ago
Congrats!
How was the interview?
completely forgot about this website and this post but got the job, studied my ass off for a week and aced all the technical questions
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