Support
This summer I was an Analyst Intern at the Nashville, Tennessee office of Benchmark International. Benchmark International is a global sell-side Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) firm specializing in middle-market businesses.
Throughout my experience, I worked with the Transaction Support team and Deal Transaction teams in the office. Starting with my time with Transaction Support, I completed market, industry, and company specific research covering a wide range of industries. I also assembled lists of potential acquirers: other businesses, private equity firms, venture capital firms, etc. who could be a good fit to target for the sale of our client. I worked with members of this team to learn how to complete financial analysis of businesses using tax records and how to read financial statements looking for key information to support the sale process and create EBITDA. I practiced creating Teasers and Confidential Information Memorandums (CIMs) used in the sales process for each company. Working with Transaction Support, I learned a lot about what is needed before a business can even be brought to market.
With the Deal Transaction team I continued market and industry research. Further, I analyzed executed NDAs and acquirer profiles for clients. I learned about many different types of deal structures, what buyers and sellers prefer, and the importance of different legal documents in a M&A deal. I attended meetings discussing and obtaining clients’ approval of NDA’s and potential acquirers’ access to marketing materials which contain sensitive business data, and learned about how clients transition their business through each of the sale stages. Working with the Deal Transaction team, I learned a lot about the importance of research and due diligence, the outreach process, and all the necessary steps to close a deal.
I want to sincerely thank Charis Wagner Warshof '71 for helping me be able to experience this internship. It was an exciting and challenging summer and I am so thankful I was able to participate.
