Reputation of Stout Risius Ross?

I just got offered FT in their Val department in Chicago, but really want to make the move to IB. I had no other offers to choose from besides some big 4 tas positions, so I went with SRR.

What is their reputation?

Would the skill set be transferable to IB? How quickly should I be looking to make the move?

Would an internal transfer be smooth?

 

Not familiar with the valuation side.

The shop itself is just okay, nothing special. I'd describe people's feelings as "meh" to be polite. Certainly nothing in the league of Houlihan.

The IB side really struggles with turnover. The pay is well below street and below other MM Chicago groups. But, the hours are just as long (80+). Deal flow has been slow over the past two years at the shop.

Looks like they do all sorts of valuation activities. Do you know if you will be assigned to TAS-like projects, or other things, such as appraisals for real estate, machinery, equipment, portfolio/fund valuation, etc.?

 

Understood. Within Val from what they said I'd be doing a lot of M&A work, especially fairness opinions, valuing goodwill, as well as IP val.

From the looks of it I'd be better off lateraling to another IB firm locally? Are the skills desirable/marketable into IB from val?

 
Best Response

I would agree, give it about a year of building up your valuation skills. If you truly are working on fairness opinions, that will definitely transferable, though you will still need to learn some portions of the M&A and LBO model, I would suspect.

I thought fairness opinions were under the SRR IB group? They claim to be #1 in FO, though HL is much more prestigious and well-known for FOs.

You might try to lateral to other MM IB shops, but worst case, try and lateral to the IB side of SRR and put in another year, maybe two. Then you can try and lateral into an experienced analyst position at another group.

Goodwill valuation, IP val, etc. won't be as helpful, so try and get in on as much FO work as you can.

Again, I say SRR isn't a great shop, but it will still give you experience and deals on your resume, which are huge. I just warn you that you probably won't be there past two years.

 

See that's what is confusing to me as well. Their valuation department definitely does FOs (listed on their website and confirmed through discussion of current deals in the interview). But I know that their IB department does them as well based off of their website.

I will definitely try to get in on the FO action as much as I can. You're saying that I won't be there past two years due to turnover or due to low pay compared to similar firms?

 

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