What’s the deal with Moelis being in London? Heard they’re the miller buckfire / Ducera equivalent across the pond praying on the desperation of kids from lower prestige schools (think st As , Edi , Exeter) with no chance at breaking into a good BB to work them to the bone. Do these schools have a functioning careers office to warn these poor kids?
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Bro what? The issue isn't who they hire, a lot of folks from my uni (target) who went to Moe were extremely sharp.
The issue with Moe is their deals, they are really just a glorified MM shop. Not their talent afaik.
True on the first point. Frankly only morons have views that intelligence and ability is limited to top target schools.
Completely inaccurate on the latter. Just need to look at recent deals like Vodafone/3 merger, Dorna Sports sale (4.6bn) as illustrations. Deals are a size dependent dependent base on the sector bankers.
Similar to all the other EBs. Deal flow has been tougher since 2022 and so people are being less picky about taking mandates that are in the 300-800 EV range.
Least obvious Durham student. True on it being a glorified middle market shop, although I don’t know anyone who’s glorifying it
Durham student? Mate I’m FT at a BB. Secondly, plenty of people glorify Moelis. Anyone who hasn’t done digging on their deals thinks they are an elite boutique. Just because you’ve read a few WSO posts shitting on moelis doesn’t mean the entire finance population thinks they’re shit 😂 most will still rank it above every MM bank.
Least obvious UCL student
Braindead post
It’s just a mid shop. I don’t think they’re praying on anyone but obviously doesn’t punch in the same weight class as most BBs. Elite boutiques just aren’t a thing in London
It’s all fun and games until you’re an MD at Morgan Stanley capped out at £1.5mm and you can’t afford to live in Kensington, Chelsea or Notting Hill
Yeah and Moelis MDs would make more with the UFC. What’s your point?
Congrats on DB/Barc/UBS!
Nobody is taking them over PJT/EVR/CVP and probs PWP/Roths/Moe btw
4 of my Economics and Mgmt Oxfd Uni cohort did their summers there and converted, 2 stayed, one went to REPE @ BX, another some RX heavy pod shop I’m less familiar with.
It’s a brand name. Smart people go there. Less smart Individuals go to your aforementioned unis, ofc there are strange outliers at every uni. My old boss went to Exeter, I really do think he’s 1 in a mil because the only other uni he applied for was Cambridge, trinity college maths and failed the interview. Super smart, drank about 6 coffees before 12 and did excel like he was playing the guitar, now is at EVR. Point is, your uni doesn’t define you, nor does your first shop, even your first two shops post uni.
Edit: I’ve come back after re-reading this thread and just wanna say what a shame it is that people will dish out petty jabs at other people’s shops. It’s actually sad you live with this high-school socialite mindset. Work hard, get a top shop, go the whole hog and get the best shop, but for god sake please mature to a point where you are happy with your own position….and if not do something about it. If you’re in a good position you’ve better things to be doing than arguing/making snarky comments, if you’re in a less favourable position, you’re wasting your own time. And yes… rather ironic I know….I’m wasting my time too. My VP is enjoying a late valentines so I’m sitting here cock in hand waiting for next turn comments.
"did excel like he was playing the guitar" lmao
Bump on this
I was gonna say that
Commenting for reach
Great thread
Hope this answered your question
I know OP btw, he goes to LSE
Jeff vs. HL vs. MOE in London?
Jeff=Moe>HL. HL not even comparable unless RX
Nah Moe over Jeff 100%. You see some Moe guys at MF/UMMs, can't say the same about Jeff
For RX, it would be the opposite ie HL>MOR>JEF (given the new team)
Incredible to see kids prestige whoring over which shop did a deal in which market - frankly in this market you're doing well to get anything. Secondly, London as a whole is completely cooked. The smartest kids are leaving or at least planning their exits from the country in the next year or so.
Moelis LDN has poached a few senior MD's from Bofa and WB within the last 12 months. Albeit cant compare with US operations, still remains an active shop in London. More towards a sweatshop though from what recent analysts describe. However, for the London market, far from being the worst choice to start your career in.
Any insight on hours/ culture?
In London no one would join moelis over any BB. It’s not even close
Anyone who does is a chronic wso nerd
Any insights on their RX team recently?
One thing to note and remember when comparing shops across the ponds is the while the M&A TAM might be as big as the US, the European SAM (for a multitude of factors) is often very small. Markets are fragmented given language / cultural dynamics, and there just aren't enough upper MM businesses so most boutiques will find themselves go after the $300m - $700m EV bracket which is more liquid. Depending on the sector, you could be more skewed towards one end of the range. E.g. if you're covering EU consumer, deal sizes will, on average, be smaller. Even BBs like JPM and Baml work on sub-500 EV situations.
Where does MOE fit in relative to the BBs in London?
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