PE Case Interviews

Hi, does anyone have any useful resources to prepare for PE case interviews, i.e. at firms like Warburg Pincus and Bain Cap? Because "cases" can be a really general umbrella term, I'm wondering if people have any insights on how they approached these interviews and what each firm's case style is like. Thank you!

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Based on the most helpful WSO content, preparing for PE case interviews involves understanding the structure of a case study and being able to analyze a Confidential Information Memorandum (CIM). In most interviews, you'll be asked to walk through a case study, which usually involves analyzing an old sell-side process.

For instance, during the interview process, you might be asked to create a memo that condenses the important parts of the CIM and analyzes the pros and cons.

In addition, the WSO Private Equity Interview Prep Pack and the Private Equity Master Package could be beneficial resources for you. These resources provide detailed PE LBO Tests and case studies that can help you prepare for the technical aspect of the interviews.

As for the specific case style of firms like Warburg Pincus and Bain Capital, it's important to note that the style can vary from firm to firm. However, a common theme is the need to think like an investor. You might be asked questions like "why is this company a good or bad investment?" and you'll need to be able to comment on the industry, the company's performance, and whether you would invest.

Remember, practice makes perfect. The more you familiarize yourself with the process and practice case studies, the more comfortable you'll be during the actual interview. Good luck!

Sources: Private Equity Interview Questions - 13 Topics to Know, Private Equity Recruiting Process (From Banking), WSO Hall of Fame: Private Equity Forum, How to Prep Before Starting PE Gig, 3 Things to keep in mind for case interview prep: Fall Interview Season is around the corner

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

A few words of advice because a lot of people in this thread will be trying to sell you cases - understand its a total gamble on whether it's useful or not. Some are selling ones way old or for more senior positions than what's useful to you.

On BainCap, try MBB case studies as a baseline. Obviously look for ones more relevant to a PE role. They also post sample interviews from their diversity program.

 

Are you targeting a PE associate program or an analyst program? PE analyst programs are heavily similar to MBB cases (market sizing, business analysis), but mix in some accounting / LBO concepts. I interviewed with 3 firms that ran these types of cases, and they all felt very straightforward. They are just trying to see if you have “business acumen”

 

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