Niche Boutique IB vs Corporate Finance/Capital Market - which offer to choose?

Guys and gals,

I have just received two offers and I'm currently debating which one to choose, does anyone have any input?

Offer 1) A role in the corporate finance/Capital Markets team of a larger firm that provides both IB Advisory, Fund Management, Accountancy etc.

  • Responsibilities: advisory in debt/equity raising, M&A, demergers, disposals, re-organisations (etc.) for the mid-market.
  • Pros: The team is very top heavy and I would be working directly with the directors in the transactions, whom all sit on great knowledge and experience.
  • Cons: Less pure M&A, but will probably be able to gain more exposure in that team in the future; Directors are all very senior and have been with the company for many years, therefore risk of being "old fashioned" and backward thinking

Offer 2) A role in a boutique IB that focuses on Renewables (mid-market) in the European market and has a very strong position within this field; most transactions are sell-side.

  • Responsibilities: sell-side M&A execution, capital raising, corporate and financial advisory
  • Pros: The team is balanced between different seniority levels; a group of smart, driven and entrepreneurial ppl,; executing bulge bracket standards in a smaller form; company recently also started a fund management which indicates it's growing
  • Cons: greater competition for promotions among Analysts/Associates; more exposed as a smaller company and therefore greater risks for employees; I will be "niching" myself to one specific market - is that SMART or STUPID early on in your career, I'm currently an Analyst 2?

Does anyone have any inputs on the two options?

Bear in mind that I want to do M&A in the long run and will probably use it as a stepping stone and not stay at any of the two companies for longer than 4 years.

Thank you!!

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