Nov 07, 2023

Analyst 3 in M&A to Direct Lending?

Hello - I am an analyst 3 at an EB in France. I will be an Associate in March and am looking to move into Private Credit. I began in corporate banking coverage and transferred to M&A a year ago. I now would like to work in PC? 
 

I have lending experience from corporate banking and transaction, modeling and diligence experience from working in M&A. Is this skill set relevant enough for getting into PC or is Leveraged Finance more applicable? 
 

Thank you in advance!

4 Comments
 

Bonjour! Your experience in corporate banking and M&A is definitely valuable and can be leveraged in Private Credit (PC). Here's why:

  1. Lending Experience: Your corporate banking experience has likely given you a solid understanding of credit analysis, risk assessment, and loan structuring. These skills are directly applicable to PC, where you'll be making lending decisions based on the creditworthiness of companies.

  2. Transaction, Modeling, and Diligence Experience: Your M&A experience has likely honed your skills in financial modeling, due diligence, and transaction execution. These skills are also important in PC, where you'll be involved in deal structuring and execution.

  3. Leveraged Finance: While Leveraged Finance experience can be beneficial due to its focus on high-risk, high-return debt, it's not a strict requirement for PC. Your combined experience in corporate banking and M&A could be just as, if not more, valuable.

Remember, every shop is different and will value different experiences and skills. It's all about how you sell your experiences and skills to fit their needs. Bonne chance!

Sources: Leveraged Finance – 2017 Update, https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/investment-banking/breaking-into-private-equity-from-banking?customgpt=1, Is CRE Debt Experience Pretty Enough for PE?, Q&A: Currently at a Credit Hedge Fund

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

May I ask why? Heard a lot of voices saying that PCs are just loan sharks and you should focus on growth and buyout to improve abilities.

 

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