Roark Capital Group vs. BB vs. EB
Hey guys, was fortunate enough to just get an offer from Roark Capital today. Seems like a great shop with great culture and I'm a fan of the consumer focus as well. However, was curious about how to evaluate a PE offer vs. an IB offer out of undergrad. Had a few questions:
1. How would you compare Roark to EBs (EVR/MOE/PJT), BBs (GS/JPM/MS/BofA), and other solid banks (Roths/Greenhill/etc)?
2. Any one have more info on Roark? Comp, potential exits, overall reputation would all be helpful information.
3. I think I would want to exit into PE eventually if I did IB, but obviously do not know for sure at this point in time. Would it be recommended to go straight into PE in this case?
4. I would definitely prefer being in NY, but am not fixed on it. How much would being in Atlanta be detrimental to my career prospects (if at all)?
Thanks so much everyone!
My biggest thing would be if I would want to live in Atlanta at the beginning of my career. However, if you don't have any other offer at the moment in NYC that you would prefer, taking the Roark offer for now seems logical. Obviously they have big names in their portfolio including recently Subway, and they're a great consumer shop but that might also affect your decision in terms of how attached you are to the consumer restaurant space specifically.
Thanks for the reply- I guess I was wondering how would you compare Roark to EBs and BBs solely from the standpoint of how it would set you up for a future career in PE? I have a BB offer (think BofA) and another superday coming up (think Rothschild) just to paint some more color on the situation.
I need you to take my opinion with a grain of salt because I am also a student who just finished SA2025 recruiting. But in my opinion, I would take the investment banking offer PURELY because I am not sure if I want to go into PE and what specific kind of shop I would want to go into. Since you have an offer at a reputable firm I would go with IB because it opens more doors, you live in NYC, and sorry but I don't think Roark > most EB/BB/"Mid tier/Low Tier BB" as this website likes to shit their pants on. However, if you want to speedrun your career and know for a fact you ONLY want to do PE, and that too with a consumer vertical, go with that.
bump
Roark is the biggest player in the restaurant space. If you are interested in that vertical + PE, i would say why not with the biggest caveat being the location.
if you are not, with a solid IB offer knowing that you would be placed into a group that is either of your interest and/or “good,” i would personally go with ib no question. I just think the location/industry that they play in is too niche to start your career in
100% Roark. Not worth doing two years of IB. Roark is one of the best consumer shops out there, and it will be a valuable learning experience. Have heard great things about the culture and path for progression. If it was any other mid shop I’d tell you the opposite, but Roark is solid.
Would also take Roark. If you want to do PE long-run, there are equally good (if not better, especially % wise) exits out of the analyst program in comparison to BofA, multiple interns have gone to BX and other MF. UMM PE generally would set you up better for a PE role because Roark has a complete training program and is a known firm. Largest player in the consumer space, so while you may be slightly more limited by industry, but positioned well for a move.
I have heard nothing but bad things from people who have interned/worked at Roark. It is a sweatshop with bot culture that regularly does not give out return offers. Yes, the firm has a good reputation overall and a great reputation in the restaurant and food services spaces. But if you're not interested in staying with the firm long-term, it makes more sense to fade Atlanta and go to IB where you will have fairly similar exit opps
Second this as well
If you do go to Roark, could you please ask them to reinstate the old normal Subway bags lmao. The new ones rip so easily.
Unless you’re set on living in Atlanta, if I were you I’d take a good BB or EB instead of Roark.
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