Thoughts on Ducera Partners

Hey I go to a target but been having difficult time getting traction at EBs. Curious how people look at Ducera Partners and if they would consider it above a GHL/PWP/EVR/MOELIS. I have a first round scheduled. 

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I wouldn’t put Ducera above Moelis/Evercore, but the folks at Ducera have crushed it from inception and it’s absolutely a firm on the rise and considered an EB. Would put Ducera RX above Greenhill RX. Ducera’s still small but they punch above their weight in the RX space for sure, and the firm has begun getting the recognition it deserves in terms of exit opps at the junior level. I do agree with the comment above that culture leaves something to be desired for, but I think that’s more in terms of WLB. They absolutely grind juniors to the bone there, but I haven’t heard any horror stories about seniors being dicks/unreasonable to juniors. Definitely a place to work really, REALLY hard, and I would say it’s worth it if you can bear the work.

 

Not sure why I’m getting MS for this comment. I have a good friend who went through Ducera’s analyst program and I’m basing my comment on his experience. If anyone has any legitimate counterpoints, list them. Otherwise I’ll just assume it’s salty GHL interns throwing crap

 

Evercore RX guy here, and I have friends at both Ducera and Greenhill RX. Personally, I'd argue that Greenhill RX is still a better junior experience overall. From the perspective of a junior, you should be taking the biggest name possible without sacrificing too much experience and personal wellbeing. Greenhill RX will open up far more doors, especially if you have any interest in buy-side (Greenhill punches above its weight class for exits because they have an institutional 2-and-out culture and supporting analysts in leaving). Greenhill RX is pretty sweaty as well, but Ducera is materially sweatier, and at the end of the day Greenhill RX is no slouch in terms of deal flow so you'll still get a good analyst experience.

 
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Greenhill's core senior team led by Augustine is definitely legit in the space. Also, for their size, they've been doing decently in terms of deal flow (checked reorg league tables and they're roughly where Ducera is, and off the top of my head I know they were involved in NAC and also do a lot of advisory work for Carlyle and Apollo with portco RX/distressed M&A/recaps). You also have to keep in mind that Greenhill RX is roughly the same size if not smaller than Ducera, so deal flow per head is still comparable.

Also, from the junior perspective, optionality/brand name is just as important if not more important than deal experience, and Greenhill beats out Ducera by quite a margin there.

 

Laughing at all these pissy Greenhill analysts throwing MS at the thought of Ducera being a better bank, even though it’s true (and will become more and more evident in the next couple years as GHL continues to fall down the league tables)

 

Ducera was #17 in the league tables in 2022 and greenhill was even worse, not even in top 10 IMO

 

Sounds like someone reached out to you to set up a first round interview and asked you technicals. Not sure what you were expecting…

 

I’m no ducera shill, but to your point on non traditional backgrounds. Ducera purposely markets themselves towards that since Michael Cramer himself didn’t come from the greatest background. It’s the idea of finding the guy with the largest chip on the shoulder and cranking him.

they generally have really tough interviews, relative to the SA level, which require you to know your stuff. If you can make it through 8 or ten interviews, they’ll take you regardless of your background. 

 

By saying those guys don’t go after creditor mandates unless it’s a big deal shows you know nothing about rx. One peak into the Reorg advisor database and you’ll see those names listed on a ton of creditor mandates on smaller cap stacks.

 

What is the pay roughly for first year at Ducera ? More than the top EB?

 

Per a friend - first years this year got 110k base, 90-110 bonus range. Definitely not "more than top EB" 

 

Let's just say Moelis hardos get recognition while the Ducera ones don't, resulting in mega hardo-chip-on-the-shoulders attitude. I'd say it's worth a shot if you are from a complete non-target with ultra hardo mentality since that won't get you CVP/PJT/EVR but Ducera maybe. 

 

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