How much do investment banks really earn in fees from an average sized LBO?

Hi all - could anyone provide some insight into how much investment banks actually generate in fees from an average sized LBO (Think a deal size of c.$2.0bn). I know we would have to take into account underwriting fees, actual advisory fees, closing fees, etc. Thanks in advance!

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This feels largely right, but would emphasize the sell side fee is highly variable dependent on outcome and how the fee is structured.

Company expecting $1.5B and sells for $2B? The sell-side bank can make $40M+. Expecting $2.5B and sells for $2B? Bank is probably closer to the $10M side of things. Obviously all depends on the ratchet structure, but just want to emphasize the sell side fee is highly dependent on outcome

 

what % of the 10-25m sell-side fee would the lead banker get compared to the other banks on the deal (all representing the sell-side)

 

In most cases, there’s going to be a single M&A advisor on the sellside (unless you’re talking about having one doing the main M&A assignment and one doing a fairness opinion or something like that) - in which case, the main bank will earn the vast majority. 
 

If you do have 2 banks genuinely co-advising on the sell-side, I’d guess the fee split is anywhere from 75/25 to 50/50. 

 

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