Key skills for M&A advisory ?

What key skills and experiences are necessary to be successful in the M&A/Business Brokerage Industry? Especially for those whose background is not in valuation that are recruited for M&A/boutique investment bank ?

 

Thanks very much, Asiamoney! A boutique I-bank/M&A advisory wanted to have a meeting with me after attending a conference where I spoke about the sector they specialising in, and I suppose they would need some help in Greater China, I believe they are intersted in seeing how i can help but I'd try to pitch a job for myself anyway. (currently i'm sales that related to derivative solution, good expense policy but i'm really bored and the money won't be enough next year)

It's easy for me to highlight my network and sales record, but is there anything I can do to make myself look ideal for this role?. (other than personality) Your feedback is appreaciated!

 

high - very high - tolerance for bullshit. from associates, MDs, and nagging clients who demand for something irrelevant at 5 pm on a saturday, due the next day at 9 am. only it's not really due the next day. only it is.

Capitalist

Thanks for the posts.. I think it will also give me some ideas on the questions I can ask about that organisation.

I am 34 and have seen friends leaving banking one by one from few years ago for lower-paied (or much lower paid) jobs, started up their own firms, or even non-profit posts. I am the only person I know who is trying to get into this non-sense (as a lot of you here woud put it) when others are looking to exit.

At this point, I guess I will just try to get more options first and will think later. I would think M&A can add more opportunities in the future than keep doing what I am doing now. (Selling byproduct of derivatives brokers)

So if anyone can add anything, I will appreciate that.

 

Well, I'm pretty sure powerpoint is pretty important - taking up approx 40% of your time or thereabout. Another good skill to have is definitely attention to detail. I can't emphasise this enough, if you have no M&A related experience and you think you have attention to detail, think again, literally! Check your work at least three times before giving it to your supervisor

 
Best Response

My understanding is that the scope of work you do isn't that much different from the bigger players - pitching > IM > modelling > mgmt pres > closing and the lot (you know 'em).

From what I know over here in Asia, the main differences would be the size of the deals? I've scarcely heard of deals in big 4 getting bigger than US$200? Think their usual deal size is M&A has pretty solid branding and the training is often good - many end up at bigger places after a couple of year (senior associate maybe?).

Hope this helps, cheers!

 

at the bottom are the accountants (big 4), a step higher but on the same level are the lawyers, then the banks, and then the client (PE shop, corporate client, etc)

so basically you are responding to the banks/lawyers/client and further down on the food chain

 

Big 4 M&A advisory does do straight execution, but mostly in the lower end of the MM. If it's there or a boutique like Gleacher, you take Gleacher no matter what. People seem to think 'boutique' means 'small deals'. Boutique usually just means that the company is small in size (relative to the BBs) and focuses on specific things (M&A for Lazard, restructuring for Rothschild, etc). If you are picking between Big 4 M&A and some no-name boutique, take Big 4. Or if it's Big 4 TAS vs Big 4 M&A, take the latter.

 
gomes3pc:
Big 4 M&A advisory does do straight execution, but mostly in the lower end of the MM. If it's there or a boutique like Gleacher, you take Gleacher no matter what. People seem to think 'boutique' means 'small deals'. Boutique usually just means that the company is small in size (relative to the BBs) and focuses on specific things (M&A for Lazard, restructuring for Rothschild, etc). If you are picking between Big 4 M&A and some no-name boutique, take Big 4. Or if it's Big 4 TAS vs Big 4 M&A, take the latter.
talked to a friend in EY TAS, said EY has two different groups: due diligence and deal integration, where the latter does the execution.
 

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