Welcome to Kellogg's Buyout Lab -- Information for Sponsors

• Course Description: This course offers Kellogg students an experiential learning opportunity in private equity by working at a buyout fund in the Chicago area. The host firm determines the project(s) that students will focus on and students commit to between 100 and 150 hours during a ten week period to the project(s) (starting when each quarter starts during September, January or March). There is no compensation paid to students and no expectation of a full-time position after the program is completed. Buyout firms select students by obtaining access to a web site that provides resumes from applicants and then interviewing students (by phone or in person) during the weeks prior to the quarter start date.


• Student Demographic: Consists of second-year 2Ys, second- or third-year 2Y JD/MBAs and 1Ys. Students enrolled must have completed substantial financial/accounting pre-requisites. Many of them want to enter the private equity industry after graduation.
  
  
• Student Responsibilities: Range widely based on sponsoring firm. Each student is required to sign a confidentiality agreement. Past experiences/responsibilities have included analytics ranging from LBO modeling to financial engineering, detailed industry/investment research and deal execution.
  
  
• Sponsoring Firm Commitment: The firm is encouraged to supply the student with guidance in their respective responsibilities/tasks and give continual, constructive feedback throughout the 10-week period. The student’s grade is based principally on feedback the firm gives to the Kellogg faculty advisor.


• Advanced Planning: The sponsoring firm and student are strongly encouraged to make contact several weeks prior to the start of the term. This will allow them to determine the nature of the student project prior to the beginning of the quarter. This allows the student to hit the ground running week one and thus able to produce a finished product in the ten week time frame.


• Participating Firms: Firms have the option to participate or not during each quarter during the academic year. Previous participants include: Madison Dearborn Partners, Sterling Partners, Waud Capital, McNally Capital, LaSalle Capital, Code Hennessey & Simmons, Prism Capital, Geneva Glen Capital, Frontenac Co, Shore Capital Partners, Granite Creek Partners, Smith Whiley & Co and 2x Consumer Products.
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Those interested in becoming a Buyout Lab sponsor should contact Professor Stowell for more information.