TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2021-22 (#1)

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Lastseasonwonder

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Is anyone able to provide an overview of the banking/finance team's involvement in a typical M&A deal, and what the sort of trainee tasks would be. To my understanding, lev finance would be involved in negotiating and drafting loan agreements (more typically in PE deals as debt is used more in such transactions). Also, sorting out security for any debt instruments (e.g. collateral over assets of the buyer).

@Rob93 - I've tagged you here as I am aware you are interested in M&A/PE.
 
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Jessica Booker

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Is it just me or the SJTs are a hit and miss? I have passed two SJTs in this cycle. I also applied for the CPS TC as the application process seemed easy enough. Did the practice test before the actual one and got feedback that I did better most people in these categories, however failed the main test horribly, scored a mere 24% despite doing much better in the practice tests and earlier tests.
SJTs can often work on a negative scoring basis. For instance you’ll get 1 positive mark for the best answer, 0 points for a not the best answer(s) and -1 point for the worst answer.

What can often happen is that people choose the “wrong” answer for questions which, then cancel out any right answers. Where candidates usually go wrong is assuming the right answer is doing all the work themselves or doing something the quickest way possible. This can often be the “wrong” answer as organisations expect you to work/learn from others, want things to be done to the highest standard or in the most considered way.
 
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TCApp2021

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You’ll get an email from GR with a bit more information - I got one today although for direct TC and my AC slot is next week. Check your junk as mine ended up there!
Did your email tell you anything about whether the commercial exercise is group or individual; whether there would be another AC stage? Also got a second email from them but is basically just repeated what was said in the initial one.
 

Rob93

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Dec 29, 2020
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Is anyone able to provide an overview of the banking/finance team's involvement in a typical M&A deal, and what the sort of trainee tasks would be. To my understanding, lev finance would be involved in negotiating and drafting loan agreements (more typically in PE deals as debt is used more in such transactions). Also, sorting out security for any debt instruments (e.g. collateral over assets of the buyer).

@Rob93 - I've tagged you here as I am aware you are interested in M&A/PE.
That's much of it, in PE you might also have high-yield bonds as part of the debt capital structure. Debt people might get involved in structuring so-called 'preference shares' which tend to behave in a bondish fashion but I think that's probably still primarily corporate's wheelhouse.

Note that security won't usually be over the buyer's assets - at least in a PE context security will subsist at a few points in the capital structure and ideally down through the assets of the operating company or group of companies. This last bit can become complicated depending on the jurisdictions in which the assets are located or domiciled in the case of an entire corporate entity. Some part of trainee work on int'l deals can involve coordinating the opinions from counsel in implicated jurisdictions.

In either PE or general corporate M&A I imagine the debt lawyers are also involved in discharging any of the debts currently against the target - in most instances you'll refinance target corporate debt upon acquisition (I believe virtually always in a PE context and would suspect overwhelmingly in other M&A also), including operating debts. This would also involve making sure any security in favour of the old lenders is duly discharged.
 

Rob93

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Dec 29, 2020
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That's much of it, in PE you might also have high-yield bonds as part of the debt capital structure. Debt people might get involved in structuring so-called 'preference shares' which tend to behave in a bondish fashion but I think that's probably still primarily corporate's wheelhouse.

Note that security won't usually be over the buyer's assets - at least in a PE context security will subsist at a few points in the capital structure and ideally down through the assets of the operating company or group of companies. This last bit can become complicated depending on the jurisdictions in which the assets are located or domiciled in the case of an entire corporate entity. Some part of trainee work on int'l deals can involve coordinating the opinions from counsel in implicated jurisdictions.

In either PE or general corporate M&A I imagine the debt lawyers are also involved in discharging any of the debts currently against the target - in most instances you'll refinance target corporate debt upon acquisition (I believe virtually always in a PE context and would suspect overwhelmingly in other M&A also), including operating debts. This would also involve making sure any security in favour of the old lenders is duly discharged.
If you're acting lender side you'll probably also be involved in intercreditor agreements - debt financing for M&A usually involves a bunch of different banks acting as a syndicate and there is quite lengthy documentation setting out their obligations betwixt themselves separate from the main facility agreement.
 
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S87

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I know right, I finished this storm of applications on the 31st with a pounding headache. Felt apt.
I finished last night and I feel like I want to get rid of this bad cold and go back to the gym. I am thinking about to take on a physical challenge called HYROX..if you guys want to join me, we can train together!
 
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