Which IB groups have the best exit opportunities?

Question

I’ve heard that some industry groups (e.g. M&A, TMT, Healthcare) offer better exit options than others. If my long-term goal is private equity, which group should I try to get into?

Answer 1

Great question, Akash! You’re absolutely right – some IB groups offer stronger exit opportunities than others, especially if your goal is private equity.

If PE is the target, your best bets are:

M&A & LevFin: These are the top choices since they give you broad transaction experience, exposure to deal structuring, and heavy modeling work – all things PE firms love.
TMT & Healthcare: These are industry groups with strong exit opps, especially to sector-focused PE funds. Both sectors see tons of deal flow and require deep industry knowledge.
Sponsors/Financial Sponsors: If your bank has a dedicated Financial Sponsors group, it’s worth considering since you’ll work directly with PE firms, though the modeling experience might be lighter.

While these groups tend to have the best exits, keep in mind that deal experience matters more than group selection. If you land in a less traditional group but get solid transaction exposure, you’ll still be in a strong position.

If you want to discuss specific banks or strategies to position yourself for PE recruiting, feel free to reach out – I’d be happy to help!

Best regards

Simon