Investment Banking Associate

Firm Overview

Blaige & Company is a Chicago-based investment banking firm focused exclusively on transactions in the plastics, packaging and chemicals markets. The firm’s pure focus translates into premier value for its clients. Its principals possess more experience in plastics and packaging transactions than any competitor, and in addition to flawless execution, also bring unique market and industry insight to every transaction. The firm possesses the industry standard in research relating to world-wide plastics and packaging M&A activity, having tracked approximately 4,000 transactions in the past five years. Blaige & Company was recently named the Sector Focused Investment Bank of the Year by London-based Acquisition International.

Transactions include the sale of privately owned companies, corporate and private equity divestitures, recapitalizations, management buyouts, equity, subordinated and senior debt financing and refinancing, and joint ventures with valuations ranging from $10 million to $500 million. Over 200 transactions have been completed in the plastics, packaging and chemicals space.

Primary Responsibilities

The firm was founded in 2003 and is very dynamic and entrepreneurial. Professional will work directly with senior firm principals and investment banking clients on a daily basis and gain exposure to the full range of investment banking activities, including:

Basic Investment Banking analysis (trading and transaction comparables, research)
Participate in Preparation of Firm Presentations, Client Offering Memoranda and Client Management Presentations describing client companies
Contact Database maintenance, marketing support.
General Office and Management support

We are only interested in candidates who are highly motivated, willing to work, and are top academic performers (top 10% of the class). Successful candidates will show ability to work independently as well as with a small team of leading industry professionals, be self-starting/assertive in identifying and accomplishing tasks, show willingness and ability to learn on the job. A willingness to work long hours and a high level of flexibility in schedules and work environment are required.

Qualifications

Undergraduate or graduate degree with minimum 3.75 GPA
0-2 years of relevant work or internship experience in finance
Strong accounting and financial analysis skills
Ability to impress clients in written English is critical, thus highly refined writing skills are mandatory.
Strong experience with Excel, Word and PowerPoint is essential
Strong interpersonal skills (sales experience is a definite advantage) and high level of ethics and integrity
Proven ability to interact with clients and others in a professional manner

Progression

Ability to compete work quickly accurately under time pressure and willingness to work long hours are assumed to be basic characteristics possessed by any candidate.
Successful hires will have the opportunity to advance quickly within the Firm.

Compensation