Where is BofA/BAML headed?

Hi everyone!

I would appreciate getting some opinions on how Bank of America will perform in the next 3-5 years and where it is headed long-term in regards to deal flow and overall reputation; both in the Americas and EMEA.

Ever since Koder was named as the new head of the Investment Bank in late 2018 they have aggressively pushed towards being top 3 in every business line; however, while overall revenue is growing nicely, M&A is simply not there (yet) (missed out on many mega deals in 2019).

Is there a real path for them to become a top BB? Or will they stay in that awkward 4th/best of the rest spot?

15 Comments
 

I think both points are valid since quarterly performance can always have a "lesser" firm on top without necessarily changing overall positioning. I am just curious what should be/are the next steps for BofA to make the JPM step from being a highly revenue-generating bank within IBD to be a firm that is also coveted for advisory not just its financing abilities (obvious being hyperbolic here).

 

This might be the case when you look at it from a general M&A perspective. However, when you look at sector teams specifically and QoQ, stating GS / MS are always the top tends to be incorrect

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Yes, I just saw the Industrials M&A head for EMEA leaving for GS; if I am not mistaken for a non-head position. Of course it is GS, but shouldn't BofA have the means/ability at this point to retain talent even if GS is calling?

Or is the MD churn a function of Koder choosing who he likes (the above MD being more italian/mellow therefore maybe not his style of military performance)

 

One thing to note is that if the Head of a group left for a non-head role, they may want to get back into the true MD position (sourcing and closing deals) and less of the administrative bs that comes with being a group head. If the banker just got sick of the admin shit (and it would look bad for him and the bank if he got demoted within the bank) he could have just left to keep doing what he is clearly very good at but not at the "head" level. While it's not good for BofA that he left, it isn't necessarily that he wanted off their platform, just that he wanted a different role

 

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