When will the lateral market resume?

Hi y´all, 

Currently working as a 1st year analyst (ignore my title) in the M&A group at a second tier bank (think of RBC, WF, Nomura, HSBC, Deutsche, Societe Generale, BNP Paribas). My group tends to be one of the weakest at my bank, and on top of that the current market environment on M&A does not help. I've been on the job for 8 months and so far I have only been pitching, with no live deal experience.

As I feel I am not progressing as I would like, I am planning to make a lateral move and get a job somewhere else (ideally at a top BB) where I can benefit from a better deal flow and I can position myself for a good buy side exit in 2 or even 3 years.

Conscious the lateral market is dead atm, and most banks are more focused on firing rather than hiring, when do you think lateral opportunities for Analyst II positions will resume?


Can I aim to make my move in H2 of 2023 (after I get my bonus in July/August) or do you think I will stuck at my current bank at least until early 2024?  

 

In a similar situation to you but I have live deal exp and man there is nothing! So frustrating

 

Think it might be easier to lateral as an An1 if you commit (verbally or on paper) to staying with the bank for more than 1 year. It doesn’t really make sense for a bank to hire someone as a lateral An1/An2 if they’re going to take 3 months to ramp up and then leave in short order for the buy side.

 

Had been thinking about it as well. My thinking is that last summer's intern classes were quite large and a good amount of return offers so in general teams might remain overstaffed through the year unless activity really picks up warranting a need for laterals. Only other reason that could cause that is if there is a lot of turnover over the summer due to AN bonuses both most will likely be expected second year departures.

 

We'll see if bonus season reduces number of people in the industry. Some optimism for M&A to comeback in 2H23. Lateral market for 2021 was perfect storm of everyone quitting and deal flow sky rocketing, so wouldn't expect it to get that hot again or for firms to carelessly hire 100s of new laterals, but some spots will open up from regular churn. 

 

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