What's the difference between a syndicated loans desk/acquisition financing/IG Loans and Corporate Banking?

Struggling to come up with what the differences are and why a syndicated loans/acquisition financing/IG Loans desk needs to exist when Corporate Banking already does?

I understand that IG Loans goes and earns their money from arranging fees etc., from approaching different banks for a syndicated loan for e.g., an RCF, TL, or bridge. Can earn a lot of fees if underwritten in an acquisition financing scenario etc. 

But isn't it the corporate bank that foots the actual money anyway? Why can't the corporate bank go out and do all of this? What's the point in the IG Loans banking team? Also a quick aside, who actually earns the underwriting fee fees? The CB or the IG Loans team?

Thanks in advanced from a very confused monkey

13 Comments
 

I think it's incredibly funny that the bumps on this thread are from people who work in or with these people i.e. corporate banking or DCM

I don't know what the difference is either :(

 

Syndications: take the loans and syndicate it out to investors. In context of DCM, they’ll market newly issued bonds to investors in the primary market

Acquisition financing: in the name. Provide loans for acquisition. Typically the LevFin desk. Massive bridges and HY bonds are originated here (at least at my bank they are)

IG Loans: in the name again. Loans (RCF’s, TL’s) for investment grade names. IG names are higher quality and less risky than their HY brethren. IG finance could also be another name for DCM

Corporate banking: relationship coverage teams for large corporates. Handle day to day relationship management for their names. Deal with cash mgmt, FX, trade, etc.

Lmk any questions

 

Hi, thanks for this.

I did have some questions:

In some banks there's a capital markets/banking team that does all of Syndications, acquisition financing, and IG Loans. 

I know CB does relationship management but I have also seen them extending their balance sheet and lending. So I wanted to know what the actual difference is between the loans and what is the point of the capital markets desk? Why can't the CB do all of the loan stuff?

Thanks!!

 
Most Helpful

The capital markets desk will handle any lending that is linked to the markets. IG and HY Bonds fall into that category. Levfin is also under capital markets (at some banks) because the loans they make are also syndicated out. So Bank A will lend out 10bn for an LBO bridge and then syndicate it out to other lenders so they’re not holding the entire 10bn bag.

Corp banking will lend out to IG TLs and RCFs. Now some banks have their CB teams do the actual underwriting, while others will have separate teams do the underwriting so the CB team focuses on the relationship only. Now when a CB team is entering a RCF or lending out a TL they may engage the levfin desk to help with the underwriting/syndications

The CB team isnt going to originate bonds or do bridges. It’s a different skill set. Banks want their CB teams dedicating all their time to their clients and their various needs

Hope this helps.

 

Hi, I have a similar question. Just been offered an investment bank analyst position, specifically for a syndicated loan role.  The description mentions :
- Real Estate/Infrastructure/Project Finance/Data Center/Shipping/Acquisition/Floating Rate Notes
- Fundamental, industry, and credit analysis
- Portfolio management and legal documentation (term sheets, refinancing, maturity extension, waivers, libor transition)
- Draft deal proposals, IMs, pricing, internal credit rating report
- Perform KYC, periodic CDD

Would this be a front office with potential deal making opportunities like DCM or M&A within IBD? It is my ultimate goal as of now. I am not too sure about modelling, but it mentions high level of Excel required. It would be great if you can share some insights.

Cheers!

 

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