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A pretty new shop but started by top people. My info is dated but from what I'd heard, the deal flow hasn't quite lived up to the reputation of the founders, but they've done some things with Silver Lake including Dell.
In terms of the analyst experience, they're looking for people who are interested in being career bankers, think Centerview. Just based on that and the small size, a very different experience than you'd get at a BB - I dont think you could really compare DBO vs BB banking head to head. Your experience and the potential exit opps will be dramatically different. If you are the type who knows you want to head to PE or HFs after 2 years of banking, then you'd likely be much better suited to a BB than DBO.
Recruiting for places like DBO is very fit-based, given that they are (a) a very small shop, so one person has a big impact on culture, and (b) they are hiring with the mindset that they are looking for long-term employees rather than for a 2-year program.
How do you think exit opps would differ? It seems they took a bunch of MS's sponsors people so the PE connection has to be there.
Impossible to say what exit opps would be like after an analyst stint, given this is a new firm and there isn't a track record. But as I said I don't think a place like DBO is going to be a good fit if your primary goal is doing banking in order to exit to the buyside. Of course most analysts at a place like DBO or Centerview or Perella won't end up as a career bankers, and many may end up exiting to the buyside, but if you already know that you have no long-term interest in banking, there are better options that will make your life easier. Can't say for sure at DBO, but at a place like Centerview, their ideal situation is that if you're good you stay on as an Associate and they do a lot to make that happen (i.e. 3-yr analyst stint or you give back your big signing bonus). At a good BB group or an advisory firm like BX/EVR/etc there is a clear route to PE or HF, and if that's your goal, comparatively there's little upside and potentially a lot of downside to being at place like DBO.
Can't tell you much more because I never got further than informational interviews w/ DBO, I could tell it was not for me. I wanted to be somewhere where a 2-year analyst stint was the expectation and the senior people would be supportive towards analysts recruiting for buyside positions. I think you need to take that into account if you have options and already have a good idea that your long-term career goals lie outside of banking.
have heard this year's class at perella have multiple kids with megafund offera. so dunno if they're a comparable. for what it's worth, my friend interviewed at DBO and told me they make analysts coldcall for deals.
Do you think DBO is comparable to Perella or Centerview or are they just not there yet? Is it uncommon for analysts to cold call for deals?
DBO is an excellent firm but definitely isnt up there yet with PWP and Centerview. If I were you, I'll take a BB over DBO. If you have nothing else on the table, make sure take this offer over any other boutique in the region. DBO is a good firm but it might not be as good as BBs and established boutiques to start your career at. Hope it was helpful.
Edit: By "other boutique", I did not mean the likes of PWP, Centerview, Moelis, Lazard etc. which I mentioned are better places to start your career at than DBO is.
nope
Made of Morgan Stanley bankers.
BB > DBO > BDO
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