Why do IB deals usually have so many banks staffed on them?

Sorry for the potentially dumb question here, but I'm just starting to learn more about IB and don't understand this. On any big IPO, it seems like every single BB and a few boutiques are advising on the deal, and even on smaller deals you will usually see one or two BBs and a handful of boutiques.

Why is it necessary to have so many banks working on these deals? Isn't it a total waste of the company's money to pay for fees to all these banks? Are the banks doing redundant work (ie are they all building the same models) or are the responsibilities split up? Do the competing banks work together when they are on the same deal?

Region
7 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Inventore in cupiditate laudantium tempora et rerum aliquid. Est velit doloremque doloremque veritatis repellendus. Tempore quidem eveniet fuga omnis. Amet quod explicabo odit deleniti. Nobis modi labore ut pariatur nesciunt totam ut.

Porro voluptas in consequatur repellendus a maiores. Quis ex rerum accusamus unde expedita. Minus unde occaecati qui quasi rerum ullam ratione. Quaerat explicabo nihil in soluta corrupti molestiae aut. Animi et et et facilis consequatur cupiditate. Esse dolor repellendus deserunt vitae unde quidem vel. Rerum quo soluta perspiciatis et.

Career Advancement Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
9
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”