MS Menlo Park - Buyside opps

What's the deal with this group? I did a quick WSO search and it seems they are definitely a killer group (plus keep hearing about MS tech in the news...)

But didn't really find a good account anywhere of how the buyside opps are out of this group. Anyone know they place in West Coast PE at MF or top tier PE level? Is it comparable to how top MS groups (m+a, power) place on the East Coast?

 

I ran a LinkedIn search too, and there seem to a be a lot of analysts from MS Menlo leaving for places I haven't even heard of. I can only presume these are VC or smaller tech PE MM shops. When one hits up MS M&A on LinkedIn on the other hand it's a very different story...

Anyone here works in or knows anyone who works in the group? Do they place as well as shops like Moelis LA into MFs? Also how's their placement on East coast?

 
BigLawBigSchmaw:

Obviously, their exit opps are not as good as Moelis LA's. No one's are. That being said, they are one of the top groups at MS, slightly below M&A but on par with other groups like industrials, etc. I know a guy who went to Francisco Partners from MS Menlo Park.

"on par with other groups like industrials, etc."

You were doing so well until you dropped that one.

 
Best Response
w1420:

So they're not on par with MS Industrials?

MS industrials sucks- average to below average group. MS Tech out of Menlo is the strongest industry group at the firm (stronger than both M&T and P/U on East Coast). Exits are mainly to top notch VC firms, though to be sure you could interview at most WC MFs if that is your thing- reputation is stellar.

 

Could you please expand a little more on the group? Dealflow, hours, culture, kind of PE shops that recruit there? I saw your post in an MS thread a while ago where MS Menlo was mentioned, but then the discussion stopped very quickly..

 

I only know 1 guy out in Menlo, so take my answers with a grain of salt (along with any others you get). They see lots of deals and hours are pretty rough. Culture is not toxic but not great either (likely as a result of lots of work and heavy hours). Exits are terrific- as I said above, all the top VC firms recruit there as well as most West Coast MFs and business development at places like Google, Facebook, etc. Options a bit limited to California/West Coast, but I'm sure you could find your way into a good East Coast shop as well if you decided to make the move.

 

MS menlo is a different culture and differet life. You will get crushed and learn a ton and get exposure to the biggest clients. It is arguably the top tech group in the industry (without going into sub-sectors). Alot of people leave for places you've never heard of either because

a) you don't know enough about those places b) they wanted a break and wanted to hang out

if you want more information - msg me

 

On exit ops its whatever you want - write your own check after 2 years. They do alot of financings and M&A is hit or miss but that's more due to teh environment but you're working with some of the smarrtest dudes in the industry. I know guys who went to HF and some went to PE / VC, others went to startups. Some who wanted chill lifestyles went to FoF and family offices. Can't go wrong

 

MS global tech has offices in east and west coast. Consumer internet and alot of the big tech names are covered out of the west coast. Some of the hardware guys and telcos etc are covered out of east coast. There's also some biotech coverage but that's out of SF and not menlo. Do you have an offer to choose between Menlo? feel free to pm - unless you think i'm still in college

 

Neither yet. SA hopeful. They do a lot of recruitment under the radar at their East Coast targets, and I was invited so am currently in pursuit. But not sure about whether I want to go West Coast, because I am not interested in VC exits. Group sounds great though.

 

MS Menlo is doing very well right now - some recent deals? OK - Zynga, Groupon, LinkedIn, Pandora, Solazyme, HomeAway on the IPO side...on the M&A front, EA / PopCap (advised EA), they're advising Hulu... CashCow has it about right on the head. The only other thing to mention / reiterate is that its Menlo Park - your rent won't be cheap, you'll have a nice-ish place though, and there's nothing really to do there at night (maybe if you have friends at Stanford you can go to Palo Alto I guess, but that only lasts so long).

For your broader question of who was on what deals, for the equity side I like IPOHome.com, but M&A is more hit or miss.

 
New Kid on the Block:
This is very helpful. Thanks again.

Are there any other websites anyone else can recommend that are good to monitor who is on what deals in certain spaces (i.e. tech, media, industrials, etc.)?

Dealbook http://dealbook.nytimes.com/category/investment-banking/

DealJournal Blog on WSJ http://blogs.wsj.com/deals/?mod=WSJ_topnav_na_markets

‎"Until and unless you discover that money is the root of all good, you ask for your own destruction. When money ceases to become the means by which men deal with one another, then men become the tools of other men. Blood, whips and guns or dollars."
 
lazardsoeurs:
how come you have been posting about so many different groups? if you went to school's info session you could've networked with the bankers from each group

I have been networking with bankers in many different groups, thats why I'm trying to learn more about which groups are better than others. I apply to specific groups at most banks (ie: tech, HC, industrial....) so Im trying to learn more about groups I have extensively networked with and have contacts in.

 
HarvardOrBust:
Lol her info says USC Marshall... Must be pretty hot to be getting so many interviews
not necessarily. i was pretty overweight and uncouth as an undergrad, and i went to finals at most of the places she seems to be interviewing at. might just be a polished resume.
 

I thought CS healthcare poached ms menlo healthcare team? oh well. But anyways, know the healthcare industry as they usually prefer someone with a biotech background - which I assume you don't. Good luck on the interviews, keep up the aggression and you will land somewhere.

 

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