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PE exit ops Options will generally be much broader/flexible, including other PE, MBA, HF (L/S equity most common, but non-quant HFs generally available), or good-o-fashioned working for a company

Distressed + special sits exit ops Options much more likely to be in a related credit role. MBA always possible, but ceteris paribus, will be harder to get into b-school. I wouldn't dismiss these credit options - distressed + special situations are the "alpha" credit strategies, so many stick in these fields b/c returns can be fantastic. These mkts are generally more complex and less liquid, so in theory greater mispricing opportunities exist

Btw, as you may know, there are a few firms that do both PE and distressed/SS. At some, teams are separate, at a few, they overlap

 

I personally find Distressed/Special Situations more interesting than vanilla private equity. Adds a level of complexity plus there's some very unique situations where your current investment is nothing like your next investment.

 

Centerbridge was the example I had in mind

2 others off top of head, albeit neither is as purely both PE + distressed/SS

(1) New Mountain; While same team does both PE + credit, the credit work is more traditional lev lending

(2) Elliott: Part of strategy is generalist, which includes both distressed + L/S equity. On the equity end, they have done some PE deals, notably in the tech sector

 

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