MIM Investment Banking students winners of the M&A Competition explored the City of London thanks to an exclusive Prize Trip

A select number of ESCP Master in Management Investment Banking students had the opportunity to participate in the exclusive prize trip to London, organised by Finance Professor Vittorio de Pedys, to discover the world of M&A and banking. 

M&A Competition

The winning teams of the annual M&A competition, organised by Prof. De Pedys at the Turin campus for the MIM Investment Banking students, were awarded a prize trip to immerse themselves in the City of London's flagship banks, exposing them to the real financial scenarios that are essential for gaining practical experience in the field.
Divided into 11 teams, the students worked hard on their M&A assignments and were judged by a panel of professionals comprising:

• Paolo Della Rovere - Executive Director at Morgan Stanley
• Niccolò Mosci - Vice President Investment Banking at Morgan Stanley
• Pietro Villani - Investment Banking Analyst at PWP
• Emanuele Gavosto - Analyst in the M&A FI (Financial Institutions) team at ING Bank.

The winning team was Group 1, made up of Edoardo Bonelli, Filippo Bianco, Giuseppe Turturici, Gregorio Casassa, Daniele Ventura, and Tommaso Minella.

They won a two days trip in London with the aim of helping students better understand the complexities of the M&A industry and prepare them for future careers in the field.

Thanks to the generous financial support of the Turin Campus, the prize trip was also extended to some members of the 2nd classified team, Group 3.

London prize trip

"Like last year, the winners of the M&A competition in the Investment Banking specialisation of the Turin campus had the opportunity to visit the financial centre of the City of London. This year we were hosted by a large number of M&A associates from Morgan Stanley and Citibank to discuss how to break into the world of investment banking, by debt structuring specialists from JPMorgan and had the opportunity to visit the London Stock Exchange," said Vittorio de Pedys, Professor of Finance and academic director of the MIM Investment Banking specialisation at ESCP Turin Campus.

On the first day, the students were welcomed at Morgan Stanley by Adam Hervas, ED, and ESCP alumni and associates Matteo Musso, Matteo Medei, Adriano Caboni, Nassim Benzerjeb, Lina Prencipe.
They then moved to JPMorgan Chase to meet Alessandro Gatto, MD, Gianfranco Maglieri, VP, Senior Associates Giuseppe Loffredo and Enrico Lucci.
Later, the students were welcomed to the London Stock Exchange by William Fenna, Manager Capital Markets, and could see the market close ceremony and the auction process. This was followed by speeches, the glass tablet's presentation, the welcome book signing and the final panel discussion.

This intense day ended in a pub with a lovely evening of networking with many young ESCP alumni working in investment banking.
The trip provided a unique networking opportunity with industry professionals, which is invaluable for students looking to build connections and gain mentorship in the field. Students can gain insights into the industry and learn about potential career paths by meeting and engaging with them.

The second day began with the awarding of diplomas to the winning teams of the Turin and London M&A competitions at the ESCP London Campus, with the local Dean Prof. Kamran Razmdoost, Prof. Panagiotis Dontis Charitos and Prof. Vittorio de Pedys.
After the diploma ceremony, the speeches and a networking moment with guests Emanuele Gavosto, Pietro Villani, and Eftychios Paterakis, the students had the opportunity to visit Citibank, where they met Andrew Park, VP, David Walker, MD and Associates.

For the ESCP students, the trip was a unique opportunity to learn about the intricacies of M&A deals, including the strategic decision-making process and the financial implications of these transactions. 

This hands-on experience deepened their understanding of the subject and helped them develop critical thinking and analytical skills. 
The trip was a unique learning experience that cannot be replicated in the classroom, giving the students a competitive edge in the job market.