IB M&A vs. Private credit PE

So after I finished my MSc last year I’ve been doing debt related internships, so far I’ve done one DCM internship in Amsterdam at a decent bank, then I was able to get an off-cycle internship in LevFin at a BB. I have now managed to get an internship offer at a large PE firm (c. €150bn AUM) in private credit, rotating between London and Frankfurt. I’m also offered an off-cycle internship at an EB in their M&A desk. Moreover my LevFin internship ends next month so I hope I’ve gotten the full time offer.

Moving to the buy side has always been the goal, of course. On the other hand, doing M&A now opens more opportunities albeit at a cost of more working hour and less comp (for now).

What do you think?

3 Comments
 

M&A at an EB will give you more career mobility. It will also set you up better for PE deals.

I’m in RX, and I’ve worked on LevFin deals as well, I think what you should think about here is whether you’re more interested in lending and analyzing companies from a risk perspective or a growth perspective. I’m a natural born pessimist, so I’ve always focused more on risk but that’s just me. PC at a fund like that will most likely make you focus on credit for the rest of your career (or take a serious cut moving from MF PC to MMPE). PC has good hours, and the comp is very accommodating.

Always here to help!
 

Voluptas architecto qui laboriosam. In rerum est rerum dolore qui debitis.

Suscipit voluptatem et esse quis quas magni. Quo tempore placeat soluta totam et tempore odit illum. Doloremque aut similique rerum fugit voluptatem sit voluptatum. Molestiae nemo delectus inventore dolorem unde. Facilis numquam maiores minima deserunt voluptatibus nulla.

Always here to help!

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.7%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (44) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”