Summer Analyst Interview Questions
I, a current junior in college, am applying for summer analyst position at a few banks. I have received a handful of interviews. I am assuming this is due to my past IB exp. I really boosted up my resume for the recruitment process and was wondering what kind of questions I would get concerning my past internship. I listed that I had exp with modeling, comps and software like Bloomberg, Thompson and CapIq. What should I expect for questions regarding these skills? Also for clarification I did get this experience during my past internship but it was not that in-depth and I was assisted by senior bankers who chose to just give me the fish instead of teaching me to fish. (i.e. I am not lying but i do not want to be asked such difficult questions that it seems like I have no idea what I am talking about). I just want to make sure that I will not be expected to describe every process like i have been in the business for a year.
Be careful about saying that you have experience with modeling--it's a double-edged sword. You'd better know a thing or two if you're going to say that, or else you're inviting modeling questions that might be your undoing.
Thanks for the reply. I was worried about this. This isn't good then because all the modeling I was doing was in preprogrammed spreadsheets. I essentially would do all the grunt work data collection and entry and then then tweak variables so that the multiples looked appealing/yet believeable enough for our clients. What are some of the questions I might be asked about modeling?
Seems like you didn't actually model, so I'd be careful about even mentioning that in the interview.
You could preface it by saying "i've had some exposure to modeling..."
I had line on my resume that said "Self-study: Leveraged Buyout Model, Merger Accretive/Dilutive Model"
Did you get any questions about it?
I did, but the key is to tell the person that you don't fully understand the mechanics of the model, but you got the gist of it, and you can navigate excel without a mouse.
yes, definitely don't put 'proficient in excel'. believe me, you're not.
SA Interview Questions (Originally Posted: 02/08/2011)
Hi these are some interview questions I've had....what are the best ways to answer these?
The local pizza store wants to sell and has asked you for help; how do you value it and how would you go about finding buyers?
A public company needs $100MM in capital. What are its options and what questions would you ask to make a financing recommendation?
How do you generate or validate forecasts?
Thanks in advance.
Were you interviewing for S&T positions?
I'll take #1.
Let's model the pizzeria as we would an early-stage tech company with no earnings history. We would take the average value of a universe of other pizzerias in the immediate vicinity, and failing that, any other quick-serve restaurants. Failing that, we would take the average of any kind of business that serves circular objects, preferably hot, preferably in a box. Then we will apply a premium or discount based on "intangibles" and voila, you got yourself a nice valuation.
just value the pizzeria compared to other pizzerias in the area (comparable companies) or do an intrinsic valuation of it (DCF).. pretty simple
bump
edit: if you want to go deeper you can also use--and this probably won't apply to a pizza parlor--LBO, Sum of the Parts, Liquidation Valuation.
edit: Of course you can use a mix of debt and equity 90/10 80/20, etc.
Don't let them trick you up too much with types of businesses and insignificant details.
i interviewed a kid and i asked him on a scale of 1-10 how do you view yourself in modeling. He said 9. I was like wow, so tell me how you would build an ability to pay analysis using VBA to find the optimal ability to pay for 10 companies in 5 scenarios all calcing off one set of numbers for each company.
So yea don't fuck with M&A people they're dicks.
BB Summer Analyst Interview Question (Originally Posted: 12/19/2013)
Hi everyone, got the following question to BB summer analyst position: a holding company has a net debt/ebitda ratio of 8x, and it s going to sell an asset for 5x ebitda. how will the net debt/ebitda ratio change? What is the clear explanation?
i can do that w/o the vba. i assume w/the 5 scenarios you mean differeing types of payment forms (e.g. cash, debt, stock, convert issue, etc...). i would do it using sensitivity table (old fashion way) and then figure the optimal structure. how does vba come into play?
Ratio will increase... Numerical explanation:
Figure EBITDA = 100, Debt = 800 Sell one company for 5x EBITDA, say 50. New D/EBITDA = 750/90 = 8.33
You are reducing debt/ebitda by a lower ratio (5x) than your current debt/ebitda ratio (8x)
Why wouldn't the ratio decrease. Here's my rationale: if you sell an asset, assuming that that it's a cash transaction, your cash position will increase which would reduce your net debt.
If I am not mistaken you are thinking of selling a fixed asset, which if it is net cash positive would theoretically reduce leverage. In the question, the word asset means an income generating unit (i.e. subsidiary). As a result, even though you are reducing debt, when you pro forma EBITDA, which is also reduced, your leverage increases.
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