The main focus of the Corporate Finance team is to provide financial advisory to clients in connection with Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) and Equity Capital Market transactions (ECM), but we do also provide some other advisory services. In connection with an M&A mandate we may be advisor to either the buyer or the seller in a transaction. Our clients in such deals are normally publicly listed or unlisted companies or financial investors such as Private Equity Funds or High Net Worth Individuals. An ECM transaction comprises offering of new equity or equity linked securities, such as convertible bonds, in a publicly listed or unlisted company. These transactions are often carried out in connection with the initial listing of the company on the stock exchange,  called an IPO. In connection with an ECM transaction the investors investing in the company in addition to the company itself are our clients. In some cases we may even create our own clients through establishing new companies equipped with a specific type of asset demanded by investors (recent transactions completed by First Securities include both offshore oil & gas drilling rigs and production units). From time to time we may also assist companies on the debt side of their balance sheets, but regular bond issues are normally managed by the bond department.

I work on M&A assignments and ECM transactions within several different industries, notably Oil & Gas, Oil Services, Hydropower Production and Real Estate. My initial responsibilities at First Securities were mainly related to preparing documentation (pitch presentations, investor presentations, information memorandums, prospectuses, etc.) and carrying out financial analyses in excel (valuations, peer-group analyses, takeover analyses, development of business plans, etc.). As I have been climbing the learning curve and accumulated experience through a number of M&A deals, IPOs and other ECM transactions, I have been rewarded with an increasing degree of project leader responsibility. More of my time is now devoted to e.g. coordinating transaction processes, carrying out meetings with companies and investors and taking part in the process of generating new transactions. In Corporate Finance you are expected to work hard, but it is also very exciting and satisfying to work on a successful deal. The learning curve is very steep and you always have the opportunity to learn more if desired.

After the on-campus programme of the master programme was finished, I carried out an internship at Gimar Finance & Cie, a Parisian M&A Boutique. There I was an analyst within the execution team in connection with both sell-side and buy-side M&A transactions. I had more or less the same responsibilities in this internship as I had during my first period at First Securities. Before the internship at Gimar I already had some experience from Corporate Finance and Private Equity gained alongside my studies at the Norwegian School of Management.

Virtually all of the courses of the Master of Science in Finance have been relevant for my career within Corporate Finance advisory. Although the courses in Corporate Finance, Mergers and Acquisitions and Financial Analysis have been most valuable so far, it has also been an asset to have a thorough understanding of e.g. options and other financial derivatives as well as fixed income securities. 

Corporate Finance advisory has a focus on finance but is also strongly multidisciplinary. Important fields of expertise in addition to finance and industry specific knowledge may include business strategy, accounting, law and economics among others. Investment Banks hire external advisors whenever required - both external lawyers and auditors work on most transactions.