Nomura vs Houlihan Lokey

first time i've heard someone use "bestow"

I would take Nomura - had a final round there too. Liked the people and they do have pretty decent placement from what I have heard (had a conversation about this with a former Nomura MD, he also added that their training programme is very thorough). Interviewed with HL M&A in London too. Deal flow is poor. For restructuring it is of course a different story. Just my 2 cents. Ultimately its down to gut feeling and what you think about the people you interviewed with.

Nomura abroad.

Historically I would have gone HL in the US, but it sounds like Nomura is off to a good start rebuilding its IBD stateside.

HL RX is pretty solid in Europe as well, not sure for M&A. Nomura in Europe is also fairly weak so I would tend to swing towards HL (seem yo have a pretty good culture and environment to work in)

HLHZ>Nomura

from what i know now... Nomura might look promising at this point wouldn't bet on placement and prestige tho

If this is in the US, Houlihan without a question. They have arguably the best food team on the street (have advised on nearly all of B&G's latest acquisitions). Dealflow at Nomura is light, and their reputation on the street is weak at best. Easy choice, Houlihan.

Aren't you the guy who asked for places "to cruise for chicks" in NYC with your banker bros?

Anyway, both banks are not that strong in European M&A, which is why I would pick based on fit and culture/work environment. Join the team you prefer to work for.

Do you believe in Abenomics? If so, go for Nomura/Mizuho/UFJ. If you're a hardcore nationalist, HLHZ (funny enough, Japanese firms are probably the most nationalistic).

I don't know much about Nomura in the US, but with regards to HL I'd say it depends on the group. It seems like they have a couple of stand out groups (Consumer, Food & Retail & ADG) but that others are pretty weak.

Can't comment directly on the question as I don't know that much about Nomura, and don't know much about HL outside the US.

But with regard to some of the things being said above: 1. Regardless of what Nomura is up to, they are nothing like the Evercores of the world (not in business mode, not in ambitions and certainly not in prestige/reputation... US is too big a piece of the global investment banking business for a bank that calls itself international to ignore... does that bode well for analyst experience and placement? I don't know anyone that works there or has worked there, so I'll abstain from speculating.

1. Gugenheim never was and never will be at risk of being called an 'elite' boutique. Its more like the Sandler Oneil of media... and thats being generous.

2. Restructuring is going through a pretty rough time in the US... its really slow. Given the timing of these cycles, you see a huge spike in distress as the floor falls out from under the economy. The problem is that once the economy bottoms and starts trending back upward... even if it stagnates for a bit (as it appeared to do in Europe, although I'd argue its definitely on the upswing now)... all the guys that were going to go BK already have. On the plus side... a RX deals tend to drag on.

My view... HL probably better brand in US... although I don't think anyone can really praise HL for placement.

I'd focus on the group you'll be in, the role you'll have and the deals you'll be working on. Absent a solid brand (which neither HL or Nom will give you for buyside recruiting)... you need to be able to fall back on solid experience and skills.

HL if u r in the US/Europe. Nomura in Asia. Enough said.