What are the "top" MM investment banks in Canada?

Freshman student at a Canadian target here. I know many shops in Canada are primarily focused in the LMM - MM space outside of the Big 5, and most larger banks are trying to establish a presence in the MM with their Mid-Market M&A teams. What MM firms have good deal flow and reputations in the industry from your experience?

 

Also, are there any MM shops to avoid that have bad reputations for sweaty hours and bad culture?

30 Comments
 

Would you consider Stifel to be a solid MM? I’ve heard they have worked on some of the largest mining deals in Canada over the last two years

 

It was the best MM in Canada when it was GMP, even beating out the big banks on deals in mining, and even tech (Eg Blackberry). After the acquisition they lost most of their good talent to places like Canaccord.

It’s not a bad shop, still up there, but nowhere near where it was. Mining deals they did in the past two years would be GMP legacy relationships that aren’t sticky to Stifel as a brand. There is some other thread talking about a weird bonus structure they’re implementing too.

 

What are your thoughts on Cormark? Is it a good firm reputation wise on Bay St?

 

Not a single person I know would take Canaccord over a big 5 + national

 

I would imagine its referring to Queen's Commerce, Western Ivey, or McGill Management. The Target/Non-Target thing isn't really real in Canada, if you want to recruit to the US then it matters a bit more. 

 

There are definitely target schools in Canada.

I would say it's easier to break in from non-targets, but I think that's because in Canada, while our best schools don't compare to America's best, our worst are vastly superior to the worst in America.

I think Michigan has more universities than all of Canada.

There are fairly smart people at every school in Canada, and I've met plenty of people who attend brand name schools in the US and I was frankly kind of shocked as I had much higher images of their capabilities in my head.

 

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