The Ken Moelis empire

What started out in 2007 as an L.A.-based boutique investment bank is now up to 325 employees in offices all over the world - and questions are being raised about how long before Ken Moelis decides to take the firm public. Behind the growth is good timing - Moelis has been able to hire top Wall Street bankers looking for work. From Reuters Breakingviews:

Three basic elements are spurring growth. First, Moelis is bringing in business to cover more than its costs. Just last week it surfaced in two prominent deals: the sale of the hedge fund GLG Partners to the Man Group, and Dubai World's $23.5 billion restructuring. Second, although the firm declines to comment, Moelis is said to have roughly $100 million available for opportunistic deployment. Finally, to entice top talent, Mr. Moelis has offered them equity in the firm. The joys of being private are many; throngs of Goldman Sachs partners undoubtedly now wish they could turn back the clock to the days before the firm's initial public offering. But on Wall Street, those benefits are almost always overshadowed by the prospect of a big personal payday.