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Attending the NIBC Global Investment Banking Competition

Helen Richardson — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:13:30 +0000

Attending the NIBC Global Investment Banking Competition

Helen Richardson Tue, 18/02/2025 - 09:13

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MSc Finance student, Mazin Seid shares his experience attending and representing 51�Թ�� Business School at the NIBC Global Investment Banking Competition.

It was an honour to represent 51�Թ�� Business School at the NIBC Global Investment Banking Competition alongside my classmates, Storm Andreas Larsen, Cameron McRobb and Iulia Tertilova. We’re delighted to say that we made it to the final stage of the competition in Vancouver! In this blog, I shine a light on our visit to Canada and give you an insight into what we learned from this opportunity.

What is the Global Investment Banking Competition?

Hosted in Vancouver, The NIBC Global Investment Banking Competition brings together teams of university students from around the world to act as Investment Banking Analysts through two rounds of competition. It is designed to mimic the high-pressure banking environment as competitors are required to pitch solutions to a series of corporate finance problems along the way. This year, both rounds of the competition were set within the Healthcare sector, specifically focusing on Dentalcorp - one of the largest dental support organisations in Canada.

The First Round

The first round case study was relatively broad in nature. The case study introduced the Canadian Dental Support Organisation space as one that is ripe for industry consolidation and mentioned that there were private equity players active in consolidation plays. To add a sense of urgency, we were told that Dentalcorp received an unsolicited takeover offer from another player. Our task was to pitch potential options to Dentalcorp’s board of directors in response to recent industry consolidation activity. Our main recommendation was the merger of Dentalcorp with 123Dentist, one of the largest networks of dental practices in Canada.

There certainly was a lot to cover for the first round! To begin with, all our recommendations had to be strategically sound, which called for an understanding of the industry specifically within Canada and of the other key players in the space. To come up with our recommendations, we had to value Dentalcorp as a business, putting into practice the valuation techniques we learned in our Business Valuation and Corporate Finance classes before the competition. We knew that we would be assessed on our attention to detail, so we were particularly careful when putting together our slides. Alongside the pitchbook, we also had a video submission, as well as the supporting financial models to back our numbers.

The Second Round

A few weeks later, we were surprised to receive an email containing an invitation to the final round in Vancouver! From over 1000 submissions, we made it to the final 54, but we knew this round would be a lot tougher. Alongside our coursework and exam preparation, we agreed to set aside a couple of days to run through practice cases ahead of the competition.

On the 28th March, we arrived at the Pan Pacific hotel in Vancouver where we were briefed on the competition ahead. The final round case was also on Dentalcorp but was more specific this time; our pitch was to a group of private equity sponsors that were considering a management-led buyout of Dentalcorp, or a roll-up of a series of smaller dental practices across Canada. We had to present a case for the venture that would provide our private equity investors with the most value.

The final round was split into three parts; firstly, we were given the final round case early the next morning and were required to submit the pitch in no later than six hours. Following submission, we took a taxi to Scotiabank Tower to present our ideas in a boardroom to a panel of bankers. This stage would whittle down the 54 teams to nine. The remaining teams had another round of pitches to complete, narrowing down to only three teams. The final three teams would present to a panel of managing directors across Investment Banking and Private Equity firms in the Final Gala Dinner. The committee organised a series of speaker sessions throughout the competition.

We only made it as far as the first boardroom presentation in the final stage, but we learned so much in the process. The biggest takeaway was that it’s a lot easier now to imagine what investment bankers do on a day-to-day basis through the valuation exercises and boardroom presentations we participated in. Producing a boardroom pitch in the space of a few hours certainly gave us an idea of the time pressure to expect on the job! It was also an excellent opportunity to get feedback from industry professionals on our approach at the end of our pitches, as well as a chance to meet dozens of students from around the world who all share the same passion for Finance.

Rounding Up

All of this would have not been possible without the support we obtained from 51�Թ�� Business School- we are tremendously grateful that the Business School covered a substantial proportion of the costs for the entire competition. We also had the backing of Dr Jamie Coen, our Corporate Finance professor throughout the competition, who taught us the fundamentals in our first term to be able to participate. Having studied my undergraduate degree at 51�Թ�� London, the choice to return for a Master’s was an easy one; I knew from experience that 51�Թ�� works hard to support and to provide opportunities for its students, particularly in career-related activities.

For those who are considering competing in the future, my advice would be to go in with a game plan. Certain activities will play to certain team members’ strengths, so it is important to understand these well before travelling to Vancouver to be as efficient a team as possible. I would also stress the importance of setting aside at least two or three days to practice cases before doing it for real. You’ll get an idea of what parts of the pitch take the longest to complete, and what the key assumptions and decisions will be in the financial models. Remember to cover all deal types and and not just your traditional merger! Lastly, don’t forget to have fun. As much as you’ll be working hard, the programme is designed for you to get to know your peers informally and to widen your network. While you’re there, be sure to set aside some time to explore what Vancouver has to offer.

Written by Mazin Seid, MSc Finance

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Luigi Rizzo on bridging theory and practice in global finance

Shamita Harsh — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 12:14:02 +0000

Luigi Rizzo on bridging theory and practice in global finance

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With over three decades of experience advising on some of the most complex Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) and corporate finance transactions, Luigi Rizzo brings unmatched practitioner expertise into the classroom. Now Professor of Practice at 51�Թ�� Business School, he is eager to help students connect rigorous theory to the realities of global finance.

From boardrooms to business schools

Mr Rizzo is Vice Chair of Investment Banking at Morgan Stanley, where his sole focus is on advising some of the firm’s most important clients as they raise, manage, and allocate capital. Across his career, he has held senior leadership roles at bulge-bracket leading global investment banks, where he served as head of M&A and corporate finance and, later, head of investment banking for the EMEA region.

His professional journey has placed him at the forefront of international finance, navigating cross-border mergers, landmark IPOs and restructuring transactions. For him, each deal is more than just a financial transaction, it’s a lesson in strategy, leadership, and methodical execution.

Alongside his full-time career in investment banking, Mr Rizzo has been deeply engaged in teaching. He is an Adjunct Professor of Business at Columbia Business School, where he teaches postgraduate electives in M&A and Strategic Corporate Finance. He has also taught at 51�Թ�� as a visiting professor, delivering courses on M&A, and is a regular guest lecturer at leading business schools in Europe and the US.

At 51�Թ��, Mr Rizzo’s approach to teaching is shaped by his conviction that corporate finance cannot be understood through theory alone. By combining theory with case studies filled with insights from his decades as a practitioner, he gives students a view of how financial principles are applied in real situations where the stakes are high and potential biases always present.

“It is a privilege to be part of the 51�Թ�� community and help students bridge the gap between theoretical frameworks and the daily realities of global finance,” he says.

This bridging role is central to his work as Professor of Practice: giving students the analytical tools to thrive, while grounding discussions in the nuanced complexity of real-world decision-making.

Mr Rizzo’s academic foundation was laid at the Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management, where he earned his undergraduate degree and MA in Business Engineering. Today, he continues to combine practice and scholarship through his own doctoral research, as a part-time PhD student in the English Faculty of the University of Cambridge. As a full-time practitioner and an academic, he regularly exchanges with scholars on emerging themes in finance, from the role of capital markets in innovation to evolving regulatory and geopolitical challenges.

A global finance perspective at 51�Թ��

At 51�Թ�� Business School, Mr Rizzo will continue to draw on his global experience to prepare students for careers in investment banking and corporate finance. His teaching highlights the need for both technical skills and judgment, showing how theory and practice intersect in shaping financial outcomes.

For him, joining 51�Թ�� is not only about teaching but also about being part of a world-class institution at the crossroads of business, technology and policy. Mr Rizzo said: “51�Թ��’s strength lies in combining analytical rigor with practical impact. It is exciting to contribute to a community where research and teaching are so closely connected to real-world challenges.”

With his extensive background and passion for mentoring, Mr Rizzo is set to play a key role in shaping the next generation of finance leaders at 51�Թ��.

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Expert Q&A: Why we should all care about how cryptocurrency is reshaping finance

Evie Burrows-Taylor — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 11:57:49 +0000

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Blockchain and crypto aren't just buzzwords anymore — they're shaking up finance. Decentralised finance (DeFi) isn’t about fancy investments, it’s about tearing down the walls of traditional finance. No more Goldman Sachs gatekeepers while the rest of us try to catch up. Now, anyone can take the wheel. Want to earn yield on Uniswap? Go for it. Need a loan without a credit check (but zero credit risk)? Done. DeFi is changing the structure of financial interactions, making financial services accessible everywhere — from New York to rural Kenya. It’s a real-time revolution, and everyone’s welcome.

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Can blockchain and digital currency fight financial fraud?

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