Private Equity Associate Underwriting Team

Private Equity Associate – Underwriting Team

Location: LDR maintains its headquarters in Houston, TX and is establishing an office in Darien, CT. The ideal candidate is located in the New York City Metro area with travel expected to a CT office, or in Houston, TX.

Background: LDR is a private equity firm focused on investing in micro-cap industrial manufacturing businesses. Our ideal investments have $2-7mm of EBITDA and are clear market leaders providing mission-critical, customized B2B Industrial products. LDR maintains its headquarters in Houston, TX with Partners also located in the Washington DC and Stamford, CT areas.

Position Description: As an Associate with our Underwriting team, you will be responsible for building financial models on a deal by deal basis and leading discussions with your Senior Manager and the broader Investment Committee on your assumptions, returns, and various scenario analyses. In addition, you will collaborate with the Firm’s Sourcing team and Portfolio Operations team to assist with due diligence, summarizing findings in professional Investment Committee Memorandums to be presented as part of monthly Investment Committee Meetings. Once a transaction has proceeded past the LOI phase, you will be team leader on acquisition due diligence, collaborating directly with the seller while coordinating 3rd party diligence partners (Financial, Legal, Environmental etc) to provide input and review of key deliverables for closing. This is a dynamic role with a focus on underwriting while providing an opportunity to collaborate across all three core verticals of the firm from sourcing to underwriting to portfolio operations.

The optimal candidate has prior experience in Investment Banking and/or Private Equity, with deep understanding and expertise around building complex financial models and conducting deep primary research on various companies and industries. Extensive experience in Powerpoint or a related platform and building professional presentations for internal and external review is expected. Experience building Investment Committee memorandums with supporting data packs is preferred. Experience in Industrials is preferred but not a requirement.

Major Responsibilities:

Build complex financial models, including LBOs and DCFs on both new platforms and add-on investments that are passed to the Underwriting team from our Sourcing and Originations team with a goal of determining the most optimal purchase price and associated optimal capital structure

Conduct SOTP Valuation analyses and various Scenario Analyses to articulate attractive entry points, purchase price multiples, and various returns to LP Investor base under each scenario presented

Perform comprehensive due diligence in collaboration with the Sourcing team to understand the industry and companies under review, with a goal of summarizing findings in the form of a professional investment committee Memorandum supported by a detailed data pack.

Build financial models on a deal by deal basis and lead Investment Committee discussions on the assumptions and returns under various scenarios

Team Leader on acquisition due diligence once an opportunity has proceeded past the LOI phase, collaborating directly with the seller while coordinating 3rd Party diligence partners (Financial, Legal, Environmental etc) to provide input and review of key deliverables needed for closing.

Constant collaboration with the Sourcing team to provide insights on new opportunities identified and how our platform strategy evolves given the addition of new add-on acquisitions. Assist Sourcing team with primary research on industries and companies as needed.

Constant collaboration with the Portfolio Operations team, evaluating and recommending various financial investments and areas for improvement that result in excess returns for the portfolio as a whole

Build and develop relationships with various Investment Banks that are underwriting leaders in our portfolio verticals in order to understand how we need to position our investments to result in premium multiples at exit

Skills / Characteristics:

Deep understanding of financial modeling with a gear towards developing complex LBOs, Discounted Cash Flow analyses and various scenario analyses in order to develop confident conclusions

Extensive experience operating in Microsoft Powerpoint or a related platform, synthesizing information from relevant company and industry research into professional decks and Investor Committee Memos

Strong presentation and communication skills (Verbal and Written)

Strong understanding of operating company accounting, finance, and capital structures, including the ability to create comprehensive financial models required to evaluate operational initiatives and growth plans

Exceptional communication skills (verbal and written)

Ability to comfortably interact (often independently) with a remote team and Portfolio Company Senior Leadership

Strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously

Requirements:

Successful candidates will have the following attributes:

Strong academic credentials and achievement

2+ years of experience in Investment Banking, Private Equity, or in an industrials-related operations or leadership role

Experience collaborating with senior leadership across a wide array of tasks

Preferred:

Experience in Industrials, Manufacturing, or a related industry

Experience building Investment Committee Memorandums and associated data packs

Comfort with periodic travel to acquisition targets or portfolio company locations

Must be eligible to work in the U.S.

Benefits:

Competitive salary and performance-based bonuses

Comprehensive health and dental benefits

Professional development opportunities and mentorship

Exposure to a diverse and exciting portfolio of investments with a growing PE Firm

A dynamic and inclusive work environment

Flexible work from home options available.