Graduate Programme 2016
About 3i 3i is a leading international investment manager focused on mid-market Private Equity, Infrastructure and Debt Management. We invest in businesses across northern Europe (UK, Benelux, France, Germany and the Nordic region) and the US, and currently manage 13.3 billion of assets. Examples of businesses we have invested in include Action the leading non-food discount retailer in the Benelux, France and Germany with over 500 stores and 20,000 employees; Element Materials Technology a network of laboratories across Europe and the US specialising in materials testing for the Aerospace & Defence, Oil & Gas, Power Generation and Transportation sectors; and Anglian Water the fourth largest water and water recycling company in England and Wales. We employ just under 300 people across nine international offices and are a FTSE 100 listed company. We are looking for top graduates to join our 2016, starting in September 2016. We are looking for people who share our values, will thrive in our culture and can help our teams across the world to succeed. As an integral member of the team, you will develop your investment and business skills and gain valuable experience across different asset classes while working at a FTSE 100 company.
What makes us unique Heritage: With 70 years of investment experience across multiple asset classes, sectors and geographies, we have a strong long-term track record of investing. The 3i brand is well known internationally and we are the UK s oldest private equity firm. Expertise: Learn from some of the best investors in the industry through rotations in our mid-market Private Equity, Infrastructure and Debt Management investment businesses. Culture: We have a strong collegiate culture. With just under 300 people globally, you will be an important member of our team and will gain plenty of early responsibility on key projects. We will support you throughout the scheme with a rigorous training programme, as well as mentoring from our executives. International approach: We have an international team working across a network of offices in northern Europe and the US, looking for interesting businesses to invest in, as well as managing existing investments. What we can offer you The 3i is a unique opportunity to fast track directly into a career at a leading international investor and FTSE 100 company. Our is designed to start developing world-class investment professionals and business leaders. The programme will involve rotations across our mid-market Private Equity, Infrastructure and Debt Management investment businesses, as well as the opportunity to work with senior management in our Strategy and Finance teams. You will also have the opportunity to work alongside the entrepreneurs and management teams who run our portfolio companies on projects which will make a real difference to their businesses. As a result, you will acquire an excellent grounding in the investment world as well as in strategy and finance. You will enjoy a great deal of early responsibility and be expected to contribute to a number of exciting business projects. You will benefit from best-in-class technical training courses in corporate finance, valuation, financial modelling and accounting, coupled with practical business experience gained from working alongside our investment professionals, senior management and portfolio management teams. Depending on your language skills, there will also be the potential to work in more than one of our European offices. The top performers on the Graduate Programme will be offered the opportunity to be fast-tracked directly into our business.
What our people say Jeremy Nakache Senior Associate Private Equity ESSEC Business School, Paris, MSc in Finance A career in Private Equity provides a comprehensive view on how the business world works. Not only do you get to identify new investment opportunities and execute transactions as you would do in Investment Banking, but you also work closely with management teams and entrepreneurs to help define and implement the Company s strategy, as you would do in Consulting. A few months after I joined the team, I led a strategic project for Vedici, a leader in private acute care in France, to help increase the company s market share, which involved working alongside the COO and Marketing Director to run pilot programmes in two clinics. This level of exposure and early responsibility could have been quite a daunting task as a graduate, but the team guided me through the process and their support helped me step up to the challenge. Oscar Tylegard Associate Infrastructure Uppsala University, Sweden, MSc in Economics I was attracted to 3i because of its strong reputation within the investment industry. The international nature of the Company also appealed to me and I regularly work with colleagues in other offices to leverage our local knowledge and contacts for international projects. The Group s track record means that we work on interesting and high-profile Infrastructure transactions, but the deal teams are small so you are given plenty of responsibility and are fully immersed in the project early in your career. For example, I worked closely with the management team to secure the refinancing of Elenia, which owns the second largest electricity distribution network in Finland. Sophia Kay Senior Associate Fund Investor Relations University of Durham, UK, BA in History 3i offers the opportunity to work for a FTSE 100 company and a widely known international brand. With just under 300 people within the firm, one of the best things about working here is the opportunity to take responsibility as soon as you join. My role involves managing relationships with institutional investors that have invested in our Private Equity and Infrastructure funds. We keep investors up to date on developments within the portfolios through regular meetings and reporting it s a great opportunity to develop knowledge of 3i s investments and an understanding of our investment strategy. My team is also responsible for building relationships with potential new investors, raising funds and managing the negotiation of co-investment deals, where 3i invests alongside one or more of our institutional investors, as we did with Basic-Fit. Edward Parnell Associate Group Strategy London School of Economics and Political Science, UK, BSc in Accounting and Finance What I find most exciting about working in the Strategy team is that you re identifying opportunities for how 3i will develop in the future. It s a challenging role which develops strong analytical skills and you get a unique view of how the different business lines operate in order to deliver shareholder value. It s interesting because there is a lot of variety in the type of projects that we look at and we are often working on multiple projects at any given time. The role requires strong interpersonal skills as there is interaction with numerous stakeholders including the Executive Committee and the business lines in order to identify strategic options and analyses to present to the Board.
Examples of our recent investments Private Equity: Aspen Pumps Our mid-market Private Equity business invests with a focus on the Industrial, Consumer and Business Services sectors. In February 2015, we made a 65 million investment in Aspen Pumps, the global market leader in condensate removal pumps. The company is based in the UK and has products available in over 100 countries. 3i intends to use its experience in international growth strategies and the industrial sector to support the business development plans, and in particular, its expansion in international markets across Europe, the Americas and Asia. Infrastructure: Oiltanking Terminals Our Infrastructure business invests in European infrastructure projects in the utilities and transportation sectors, as well as primary PPP and low risk energy projects. In February 2015, 3i Infrastructure signed an agreement to invest 111 million to acquire a 45% interest in two of Oiltanking s terminals in the Benelux. Oiltanking is one of the world s leading independent storage businesses for oil, chemicals and gas, in an industry where reputation, for safety, quality and customer service, is paramount. The company s customer base includes stockholding agencies, oil companies and traders. Debt Management: Jamestown VI Our Debt Management business manages third-party funds investing in corporate debt issued by medium and large European and US companies. In February 2015, we closed Jamestown VI, a $750 million CLO (collateralised loan obligation) fund, which will focus on investing in US dollar denominated senior secured loans that are backing private equity buyouts in the US. Strong investor demand allowed us to upsize the fund and Jamestown VI is the largest CLO fund we have raised to date.
Who we are looking for Minimum 2:1 degree (or international equivalent) attained or expected from a top university. A minimum of 320 UCAS points (or international equivalent). Strong academic and extracurricular performance to demonstrate excellence in all areas. Relevant and impressive undergraduate work experience, or involvement in community projects or business ventures. An analytical mind, strong numerical ability and commercial acumen, together with strong leadership, interpersonal and communication skills. The ambition, talent and entrepreneurial flair to succeed in the investment world. A strong work ethic, an eye for detail and the ability to perform well under pressure. A genuine interest in the business world and the investment industry in particular. In addition to English fluency, the ability to speak one or more of Dutch, French, German or Swedish is preferred. Benefits package We offer a competitive salary, a variable performance-related bonus and benefits. Best-in-class training to develop your technical, leadership and interpersonal skills will be provided throughout the programme, together with a senior 3i investor as a personal mentor. Ongoing career development will be offered throughout your time at 3i, as well as opportunities to work in our European offices, depending on your language skills. Contact details For more information on how to apply, please go to our website: www.3i.com/about-us/careers www.3i.com