Career

TD Cowen Continental Europe is an international acting M&A, equity and debt financing firm. We operate from various locations in Europe.

Current Vacancies

Entrepreneurial spirit welcome!

We are looking for the best minds to contribute their skills to our professional team and to the long-term success of our mandates. An internal personnel selection with individual development for each employee is an integral part of our corporate culture. A good example is our cooperation with HHL Leipzig, with whom we have developed a tailored MBA program for our employees.

we offer our employees

• A career that rewards performance and success.
• A working environment on a dynamic team with a strong network.
• Interesting earning prospects with fixed and variable components.
• Active personnel development with internal and external continuous education programs at MBA level.
• Support regarding the participation in the part-time MBA Program of HHL, Leipzig.

“I would like to express my sincere thanks to Cowen for the support I received last year as part of the Deutschlandstipendium (scholarship). This made it possible for me to organize my studies more carefree and to concentrate on essential things.”

what our people say

ben wiese

As part of my internship, I was able to support the Strategic Consulting department in the Leipzig office.

After a few days of onboarding and a warm welcome in the office, work began on the first project. The speed with which small project components were transferred to my own responsibility was remarkable. Typical tasks include the compilation of potential buyers in a sell-side mandate, market research with common databases or even the creation of slides for marketing materials.

Especially the wonderful working atmosphere makes it possible to solve any problem with a lot of teamwork and helpfulness even in times of high workload.

I am happy to recommend the internship and thank you for the good time.

(Internship period: October – December 2022)

Axel oberhagenmann

During my time at Cowen, I was not only able to deepen my expertise in the field of M&A, but also get to know many exciting people and projects.

As an intern, I was fully integrated into the day-to-day business directly after onboarding. My tasks ranged from market research and pitch creation to business plan analysis and financial model design. Not only was I able to learn a lot in terms of tasks, but could also gain a deeper understanding of the different industry characteristics.

I was able to master the varied everyday work and the challenges that came with it not least thanks to my always helpful and open colleagues, who were also willing to get involved in activities outside of work.

I am very happy that I was able to spend my time at Cowen and can recommend it to anyone who wants to get to know M&A and be treated as a full team member.

(Internship period: September – November 2022)

Alexander Schmidt

I was an intern at Cowen for three months in the Strategic Consulting department.

The time at Cowen was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed the collegial atmosphere! I would recommend Cowen to anyone who is interested in M&A, because you get to see different projects at different stages and also come into contact with colleagues at every hierarchical level.

I have been involved in sell-side and buy-side projects as well as pitches. The tasks include: the preparation of investment memoranda and longlists, the search for potential investors or potential targets and market assessments as well as company valuations. All in all, you get a very good overview of the M&A business and insights into different markets. In addition, the colleagues are very helpful and are always open to questions.

I can only recommend an internship at Cowen!

(Internship period: June – September 2022)

Marcel Morris

My colleagues at Cowen allowed me to become a fully integrated team member right from the beginning of my internship. I was involved in several projects during different deal phases that included sell- and buy side mandates as well as research tasks. During that process, I got the chance to work directly with senior bankers at Cowen and to have some exposure to the management of clients and private equity firms. The amount of responsibility, trust and independence given to Cowen interns is rare in investment banking. Some of my tasks included preparing financial models, creating strategic content for information memoranda and assisting with research and valuation analysis.

There is a healthy office culture which made it easy for me to connect to my coworkers. The challenging work environment is balanced with regular team events, social activities and fitness opportunities. I can highly recommend Cowen to anybody looking for a challenging internship that allows you to independently work on international M&A deals across several sectors in a friendly and motivated team.

(Internship period: June – September 2022)

Lennart Vahsen

During my three-month internship at Cowen, I had the opportunity to support the M&A team in both Financial and Strategic Consulting.

Looking back, I can say that I really enjoyed my time at Cowen and can recommend the internship to anyone looking for deep and – most importantly – broad insights into the M&A business. From day one, the team ensures that interns get a good start on the day-to-day work, e. g. by completing trainings in the relevant databases S&P Capital IQ, Pitchbook, Mergermarket and Bureau van Dijk. After completing the trainings, it doesn’t take long to get assigned to your first project.

My daily tasks within the internship included the creation of pitch decks, information memoranda, financial models as well as data room management. Throughout all project phases, the way of working and the atmosphere in the team was very supportive and encouraging, which is why I always felt like a full team member.

Summed up the internship gave me a broad but at the same time deep insight into the daily M&A business and I can only recommend the internship at Cowen to anyone.

(Internship period June-August 2022)

Philipp vogtland

During my three-month internship at Cowen, I was able to support the team in the Leipzig office in the Strategic Consulting department. During the internship, I was able to gain very good insights into the daily M&A business.

My tasks consisted of creating pitch decks and information memoranda. I was also able to participate in the preparation of company valuations.

During my internship, I was given the opportunity to work under my own responsibility and to incorporate my ideas into the projects. I was allowed to work on both buy-side and sell-side mandates, which gave me a deep insight into the respective process phases. I was very excited about how deeply I was allowed to get involved in the projects and how strongly my opinion was perceived.

The unique culture at Cowen is particularly noteworthy. From the very beginning, I was seen as part of the team and quickly integrated thanks to the open and friendly nature of my colleagues. The day-to-day work is extremely communicative and the atmosphere in the team is excellent. Even in the most stressful phases or at late hours, working in the team was always fun.

During my time, I was able to learn a lot and gain new experience. I can unreservedly recommend the internship at Cowen to anyone.

(Internship period April-June 2022)

Johannes wahl

I completed a three-month internship at Cowen in the Leipzig office with a focus on Strategic Consulting.

From the beginning, I was integrated into projects and my tasks included researching market data using databases, assisting with pitch presentations, creating one pagers and supporting in the data room. In doing so, I had the opportunity to gain insight into both buy-side and sell-side mandates and through the various projects I came in touch with different industries. In general, I have the impression that I have gained a good insight into the workflows of an M&A process through the internship.

I was particularly impressed by the very friendly atmosphere at Cowen, which gave me the feeling that I always had a contact person and that the team was working towards a common goal – to drive the projects forward. At this point, I would also like to mention team events, which help to get to know all the other colleagues better and ensure a pleasant working environment.

In summary, I can say that I especially enjoyed the dynamic and varied work and can recommend the internship.

(Internship period April – June 2022)

danny mellor

During my three-month internship at Cowen, I had the opportunity to support the team in the Leipzig office (Financial Consulting) and was able to gain deep insights into the daily M&A business.

After a warm welcome from the colleagues in the Leipzig office, the first week was mainly characterized by the onboarding process and various database trainings.

During my internship, I was allowed to support both buy-side and sell-side projects, which allowed me to get to know different industries and process phases.

My tasks mainly included preparing company valuations and financial models, contributing to information memoranda as well as preparing pitch presentations and data room management.

Cowen allows you to take on responsible tasks, work on them independently and incorporate your own thoughts and ideas.

The great working atmosphere in the Leipzig office deserves extra mention. The open and friendly nature of the colleagues makes you feel part of the team right from the start, and there is always someone to talk to if you have any questions or need help. Even in stressful phases with tight deadlines, people support each other in the best possible way. Joint lunches, after-work meetings as well as team events have also contributed to a pleasant working environment.

Overall, I am grateful for the experience gained and can therefore only recommend the internship at Cowen.

(Internship period March – May 2022)

Philipp orsini-rosenberg

During my three-month internship at Cowen in Leipzig, I was able to support the team in the Strategic Consulting department. I was well received by the team right from the start and was also directly involved in projects, where I was also allowed to take on a lot of responsibility for individual tasks. These tasks ranged from supporting the creation of pitch documents, longlists and evaluations to assisting with information memoranda. I was able to work independently and it was appreciated if you also contributed your own ideas and thoughts. Over the course of these three months, I was able to learn an incredible amount about the various tasks of an M&A consultancy.

The way of working and the atmosphere in the team is really excellent and you can only wish for such a pleasant working environment. Of course, there are also stressful phases when the work pressure is a bit higher, but even in these phases the team supports each other as much as possible. Even as an intern, you are always in direct contact with partners from whom you can also learn a lot and even as an intern, you have such an open relationship with the partners and can hold conversations.

I can recommend an internship at Cowen to anyone who is interested in the M&A business and who wants to work on exciting deals as part of a great team. Not only do you learn a lot about different industries and companies, but also a lot about the different phases of a deal and its processes.

(Internship period October – December 2021)

Philipp Peters

Immediately on the first day after a short on-boarding, I was warmly welcomed by the team in the office and introduced to the project work. The first week consisted to a large extent of various trainings on different databases (S&P CapitalIQ, Pitchbook, Mergermarket, BvD), which later became part of my daily work.

As part of the Financial Consulting team, I was fully involved from the beginning and was able to contribute to the creation of teasers, information memoranda, company valuations and many other financial analyses. One thing that should be emphasized here is that you are given the opportunity to work on a lot of financial models yourself, which is something you hardly ever get in any other M&A internship.

The culture at Cowen is really unique and I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to complete my internship at Cowen. Throughout the entire time, there was always constructive feedback and all of my work colleagues always proved to be open to my questions and feedback. I can only recommend anyone who is interested in investment banking and especially M&A to complete an internship at Cowen.

(Internship period July – September 2021)

Philipp nürnberger

From March to May 2021, I completed an internship in Strategic Consulting at Cowen in Leipzig. During this time, I worked on buy- and sell-side projects and gained exciting insights into many areas of the M&A business. I was given the opportunity to work independently and to incorporate my thoughts and ideas into my daily work. The internship allowed me to develop professionally as well as personally and to deepen my knowledge. It should also be emphasized that despite the high workload, attention was always paid to reasonable working hours, which is not a matter of course in the consulting industry.

At Cowen, I also experienced a great atmosphere among my colleagues, who integrated me into the team from day one and showed me a high level of appreciation. For any questions, I could always find a contact person who could help me in word and deed. The contact with the Cowen partners was also very respectful and uncomplicated at all times.

Due to the numerous positive impressions, I can only recommend an internship at Cowen to anyone.

(Internship period March – May 2021)

lorenzo fontanini

From March to May 2021, I completed an internship in Strategic Consulting at Cowen in Leipzig. During this time, I worked on buy- and sell-side projects and gained exciting insights into many areas of the M&A business. I was given the opportunity to work independently and to incorporate my thoughts and ideas into my daily work. The internship allowed me to develop professionally as well as personally and to deepen my knowledge. It should also be emphasized that despite the high workload, attention was always paid to reasonable working hours, which is not a matter of course in the consulting industry.

At Cowen, I also experienced a great atmosphere among my colleagues, who integrated me into the team from day one and showed me a high level of appreciation. For any questions, I could always find a contact person who could help me in word and deed. The contact with the Cowen partners was also very respectful and uncomplicated at all times.

Due to the numerous positive impressions, I can only recommend an internship at Cowen to anyone.

(Internship period March – May 2021)

Matthias wohlgefahrt

During my almost six-month internship at Cowen, I mainly supported the Strategic Consulting team. Due to a detailed onboarding on the first day as well as several database trainings at the beginning, it was very easy for me to get started and I was directly involved in several projects. Through my daily work, I was able to gain valuable insights into the entire M&A process and was very much involved in the workflows of the project teams throughout.

My primary tasks included assisting in the preparation of information memoranda and management presentations, preparing one pagers, working out longlists and researching market data. I found it particularly positive that I was often able to contribute my own suggestions when working on these topics and was thus able to work independently. Although I completed large parts of my internship in home office due to corona, the communication with the team members always worked out perfectly well and I was always helped quickly and gladly with questions. The atmosphere between the interns was also extremely positive. When we were in the office, we often spent our lunch breaks together.

I can unreservedly recommend an internship at Cowen, as I was able to gain a meaningful insight into the M&A business and learn an incredible amount professionally. Furthermore, I really enjoyed working in a young, dynamic and helpful team.

(Internship period October 2020 – March 2021)

irma sielaff

During my almost six-month internship at Cowen, I mainly supported the Strategic Consulting team. Due to a detailed onboarding on the first day as well as several database trainings at the beginning, it was very easy for me to get started and I was directly involved in several projects. Through my daily work, I was able to gain valuable insights into the entire M&A process and was very much involved in the workflows of the project teams throughout.

My primary tasks included assisting in the preparation of information memoranda and management presentations, preparing one pagers, working out longlists and researching market data. I found it particularly positive that I was often able to contribute my own suggestions when working on these topics and was thus able to work independently. Although I completed large parts of my internship in home office due to corona, the communication with the team members always worked out perfectly well and I was always helped quickly and gladly with questions. The atmosphere between the interns was also extremely positive. When we were in the office, we often spent our lunch breaks together.

I can unreservedly recommend an internship at Cowen, as I was able to gain a meaningful insight into the M&A business and learn an incredible amount professionally. Furthermore, I really enjoyed working in a young, dynamic and helpful team.

(Internship period October 2020 – March 2021)

domenik koch

During my five-month internship at Cowen, I supported the M&A team in Leipzig in both Strategic and Financial Consulting.

After a short on-boarding, I was introduced to the project work on the very first day and warmly welcomed by the team. To be able to perform my tasks in the best possible way, I received training on the various databases that were part of my daily work.

I supported the team in the preparation of long and short lists, multiple valuations, the preparation of pitch presentations and many other financial analyses and strategic topics. Due to the breadth of my responsibilities, I was able to witness several steps of the M&A process in different industries. The open nature of my colleagues and a flat hierarchy made it very easy for me to feel like a full team member, ask questions and successfully complete challenging tasks.

I would recommend an internship at Cowen as regular feedback and lots of responsibility guarantee a steep learning curve. Cowen offers a great working atmosphere and a very interesting insight into the world of investment banking and M&A.

(Internship period June – December 2020)

Fabian römpke

For three months, I was allowed to support the Financial Consulting division of Cowen. During this time, I was firmly integrated into several projects and got to know the dynamic working world of the industry.

The internship was very well structured. After onboarding and an introduction to the common databases, I was quickly able to contribute to projects. Among other things, I supported my colleagues in the preparation of financial models, company valuations and pitch presentations. Here I was able to contribute and expand my knowledge of Excel and PowerPoint.

Great importance was also attached to constructive feedback. In two interviews, I received detailed feedback on my working methods, which contributed to my personal development. Questions and suggestions were always welcome.

Overall, this time gave me an interesting insight into the industry and provided me with new impulses and skills. I can therefore recommend the internship without reservation. Above all, I have fond memories of the friendly, collegial environment.

(Internship period September – November 2020)

ricardo kalbhen

During my three-month internship at Cowen, I was able to support the M&A team as an intern in Strategic Consulting.

Immediately on the first day, I was warmly welcomed by the team in the Leipzig office. After a short on-boarding, I continued with training on various databases (S&P CapitalIQ, Pitchbook, Megermarket, BvD).

During my time at Cowen, I was privileged to be involved in a variety of projects across different sectors. My responsibilities included assisting with long and short lists, multiple valuations, pitch presentation preparation, and other financial analysis and strategic issues.

I am extremely grateful for the opportunity I was given to complete my internship at Cowen and highly recommend Cowen to anyone interested in the world of investment banking and especially M&A. Cowen offers a steep learning curve and a great working atmosphere.

(Internship period July – September 2020)

maximilian strohmajer

During my three-month internship at Cowen, I was able to support the team as an intern in the Strategic Consulting department.

Immediately on the first day, I was warmly welcomed by the team in the office and introduced to the world of investment banking. Probably the most important point for me was the extremely pleasant and particularly open working atmosphere that could be clearly perceived among my colleagues. Everyone always took the time to answer questions, which made it a lot easier for me to get to grips with the deeper subject matter of M&A processes.

During my time in the Leipzig office, I was able to work on a variety of projects, which allowed me to get to know different process phases and industries. Furthermore, after a short time I was entrusted with my own small projects, which I was able to work on independently.

I am extremely grateful that I was given the opportunity to complete my internship here and I would unreservedly recommend Cowen to anyone with the intention of gaining deeper insights into the investment banking and M&A business.

(Internship period June – August 2020)

mirko nikkels

During my five-month internship, I had the pleasure to support the whole team as a Strategic Consulting intern in the main office in Leipzig.

Cowen is an M&A company with a flatter organizational structure compared to its peers. It creates a favorable climate for personal and intellectual development.

After a short onboarding process, I directly stepped into several projects. I gained a lot of experience in different M&A topics, such as long and short lists or multiples valuations. In addition, my general understanding of an M&A process improved as well as I took part in different projects at different stages (teasers, information memoranda, pitches etc.). Two things I highly appreciated at Cowen were the diversified tasks and the employees coworking.

I highly recommend Cowen to anybody prospecting a challenging and intensive, but nevertheless fantastic experience in the M&A world.

(Internship period: January – June 2020)

LINGLING TONG

During my three-month internship, I supported the Leipzig team in the Financial Consulting department.

After a great welcome, onboarding and several software trainings, I was able to directly participate in current projects and support with improvement of financial modeling templates. My daily responsibilities included diverse M&A tasks such as preparation and analysis of financial data, financial planning for companies from various industries, financial modelling and multiple/DCF valuations, preparing longlists and assisting in the creation of presentations for pitches, improving the automation of valuation templates, etc. I always received support and feedback for my questions and work results. My colleagues here were open-minded and maintained direct communication with the project team via small physical or virtual meetings.

During my internship at Cowen, I learned a lot about M&A transactions at different stages through involvement in various projects – things I hadn’t learned from university textbooks. I was regarded as part of the project team and was able to make valuable contributions. Hence, I would highly recommend an internship with Cowen to anyone who is eager to gain experience or insight into the area of M&A transactions.

(Internship period: January – March 2020)

Daniel Gerami

For a period of three months, I had the opportunity to support Cowen as an intern in Financial Consulting.

Right from the start, I felt very comfortable due to the great team and working atmosphere and was able to integrate myself into the daily work routine and the project workflow very quickly. Due to the collegiality and direct involvement, you feel like a fully-fledged team member. You are entrusted with a high level of responsibility, which guarantees a steep learning curve.

My daily tasks included various tasks of the M&A business, e. g. creating long and short lists, supporting multiples and DCF valuations as well as creating and editing pitch presentations, information memoranda etc. I also had the opportunity to work with the team on a daily basis. Throughout the entire time, all of my work colleagues proved to be receptive to my questions and comments and feedback was given regularly.

I can only recommend anyone looking to gain experience in M&A to intern at Cowen. Such a high level of responsibility and the openness with which interns are welcomed is not a given for an internship and thus provides unique insights into the world of M&A.

(Internship period November 2019 – January 2020)

David börner

Looking back, I can only warmly recommend the internship at Cowen in Leipzig to everyone. As part of the Financial Consulting team for three months, I gained a deep insight into the work of an M&A consultancy. I was fully involved right from the start and was able to contribute my part to the creation of teasers, information memoranda, company valuations and financial models. By working on many different transactions, I was able to develop an understanding of diverse industries and business models. At this point, I would also like to highlight the trust shown and the willingness of colleagues to take time and share their own knowledge, which allowed me to take a big step forward both professionally and methodologically – a testament to the great intern culture at Cowen!

(Internship period October – December 2019)

lea schüler-allal

During my internship at Cowen, I got to know the different areas of M&A corporate consulting, especially in Financial Consulting. Through the challenging activities, I was able to deepen my skills in financial analysis, financial modeling – by developing business plans and business models – as well as business valuation in diverse industry sectors. Even as an intern, you can take on responsibility early on, are firmly integrated into the projects and thus get the opportunity to learn an incredible amount.

The atmosphere is very open and collegial. The feedback culture in the form of regular discussions with the supervisor is intensively cultivated. In the middle and at the end of the internship, you receive personal feedback in which feedback is discussed in detail. A lot is done for compatibility of private life and career, which is an exception in this industry.

(Internship period October – December 2019)

Daniel wägner

As part of a 3-month internship, I was allowed to support the Leipzig office of Cowen. After a very warm welcome from the team, I was directly integrated into the work processes of various projects, so I was able to get a comprehensive impression of the M&A process workflows.

In addition to general market and company research, my tasks included supporting the team in the preparation of pitch presentations and information memoranda as well as the creation of multiple company valuations and long lists. During the internship, I received regular feedback on the tasks I had completed and was thus able to constantly improve my working methods.

The friendly employees and the resulting pleasant working atmosphere deserve special mention. I can therefore highly recommend working at Cowen and would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone once again for the wonderful time.

(Internship period June – August 2019)

Patricia müller

During my internship at Cowen, I was given the opportunity to get to know the exciting M&A business in more detail and to underpin my theoretical knowledge with practice. On the first day, I was welcomed with open arms and at the same time received my first tasks.

Experienced investment bankers often say that the learning curve in the M&A industry is very steep. I can now confirm this statement. The tasks I was given meant that I was already given a lot of responsibility even at the beginning of my internship. Especially by working on several projects at the same time, I was able to learn a lot about the different industries, companies and project phases. As a result, my tasks were also very broadly based. In the first half of my internship, the tasks assigned to me required a lot of research, for example the creation of an extensive longlist of potential investors and, based on relevant key figures and facts, the respective prioritization. The research-intensive tasks also included conducting industry analyses for the equity story. In the second half, I worked a lot with PowerPoint and Excel, mainly supporting my team in creating and updating the pitch presentations and the information memorandums.

But not only the great learning experience characterized my internship at Cowen, but also the pleasant working atmosphere. There is a lot of emphasis on a work-life balance, which is not necessarily common in the industry. This makes Cowen an attractive employer in the M&A business. I also came to appreciate the generosity and friendliness of my colleagues. My questions and comments were always listened to.

I am very grateful for the impressions and experiences I gained and can therefore highly recommend the internship at Cowen to anyone.

(Internship period May – August 2019)

Johann kühns

During my 3-month internship at Cowen, I was able to support the Leipzig team in the Financial Consulting department. During my time, I was able to get to know the different facets of an M&A management consultancy. Very early on, I was able to work independently on projects and thus gain a lot of experience. It was particularly exciting to work directly with partners on projects. My tasks included contributing to teasers, investment memoranda, company valuations and financial models.

I would like to emphasize the nice working environment at Cowen. All colleagues are very friendly, take time for the interns and are always ready to help with questions. You constantly get constructive feedback and tips, which leads to a constant improvement of your own work. Compared to the rest of the financial advisory industry, the workload at Cowen is very humane, but still offers a deep insight into all areas of M&A and is therefore highly recommended as an internship.

(Internship period February – April 2019)

Lukas weniger

After a very friendly welcome in the Leipzig office, I was able to learn a lot about the M&A business during the then following three months. My tasks consisted of conducting intensive market and company research, assisting in the preparation of information memoranda, preparing multiple valuations and creating long lists.

During this time, I was involved in a wide variety of projects and was able to gain an insight into various industries and business areas. Even in phases of higher workload I always found a contact person for questions. There was regular constructive feedback on the results of my work, which enabled positive development.

I felt comfortable the whole time, which was due to the exceptionally friendly and positive working atmosphere and the humane working hours. I would like to thank Cowen again and can recommend the internship to anyone without reservation.

(Internship period January – April 2019)

justus nowak

After a very friendly welcome in the Leipzig office, I was able to learn a lot about the M&A business during the then following three months. My tasks consisted of conducting intensive market and company research, assisting in the preparation of information memoranda, preparing multiple valuations and creating long lists.

During this time, I was involved in a wide variety of projects and was able to gain an insight into various industries and business areas. Even in phases of higher workload I always found a contact person for questions. There was regular constructive feedback on the results of my work, which enabled positive development.

I felt comfortable the whole time, which was due to the exceptionally friendly and positive working atmosphere and the humane working hours. I would like to thank Cowen again and can recommend the internship to anyone without reservation.

(Internship period January – April 2019)

quynh vu

I came across Cowen in 2017 during my internship at Magazino, a former client. At that time, the great cooperation with the consultants and partners from a client perspective convinced me so much that I decided to do an internship in Financial Consulting. From day one, I was warmly welcomed by the team and directly entrusted with exciting tasks. I was involved in the preparation of pitches (company valuations, market research) and in various sell-side projects and phases, such as the preparation of information memoranda, financial models and analyses, and the preparation and support of due diligence. I would highly recommend anyone to do an internship at Cowen, also regardless of the professional focus. Due to the diversity of industries in the M&A business, you can bring in your expertise from different fields of study.

Looking back – now as a permanent employee at Cowen – I can say that the internship and the activity as a working student were the perfect career start for me. In particular, the familiar atmosphere within the team contributed and still contributes to the fact that one remains motivated even in very stressful and time-consuming project phases and feels very well taken care of.

(Internship period February – April 2018 | Working student from May 2018 to September 2018)

knut von ahlen

During my 12 months as an intern and working student in the Leipzig office, I was able to gain profound and versatile insights into the complexity of the M&A business. By working in Financial Consulting, Research and Strategic Consulting, I was able to participate in all phases of M&A projects in various industry sectors.

The range of tasks was very diverse. By working independently on pitches, preparing company valuations according to DCF and multiple methods, contributing to investment memoranda and teasers, preparing longlists and developing business plans and business models, I was able to gain deeper insights into all relevant steps of a corporate transaction. Through the challenging activities, I was able to deepen my skills in financial analysis, financial modeling and company valuation as well as strategic company and market research in diverse industry sectors. The independent handling of responsible tasks as well as the regular feedback contributed to a very steep learning curve. Throughout the year, I was always able to gain new insights and deepen my knowledge.

From day one, the highly motivated Leipzig team integrated me in a friendly and helpful manner. Also, the nice and uncomplicated contact to the partners as well as the modern office in Leipzig’s city center contribute to a very pleasant and familiar working environment.

(Employment period January – December 2018)

marc berges

During my six-month internship at Cowen, I was assigned to the Strategic Consulting department, assisting with a variety of live transactions as well as marketing initiatives. My tasks mainly included the preparation of process documents, assisting in financial and valuation analyses as well as various research tasks. Especially in the preparation of marketing pitches, I often had the opportunity to work directly with senior management on my own initiative and thus learn not only the technical M&A craft and how to handle responsibility, but also how to manage various work steps. By working on live transactions, I also strengthened my understanding of processes and gained initial experience in communicating with customers.

The extremely familiar atmosphere within the team is unique in the industry and creates a working environment in which new team members can integrate quickly. As an intern, I was always offered the active support of my colleagues so that I could benefit and learn from their experience. Thanks to the flat hierarchies within the team, I had the opportunity to take on a lot of responsibility early on and to work in direct exchange with the partners, which further increased my learning curve. In addition, the high deal flow guarantees a varied working day as new industries, clients and process situations are constantly being dealt with. Despite the high workload and great growth ambition in the context of the merger with the American bank Cowen, attention was always paid to a balanced working environment and a healthy work-life balance. This is particularly evident in the numerous team events, with which the company underlines its focus on team spirit, balance and identification with the company and the team.

(Internship period May 2018 – October 2018)

franz baumgart

After a warm welcome from the Leipzig Cowen team and an introduction to research tools and databases, I was immediately integrated into ongoing project work. In addition to in-depth company and market research, my responsibilities also included the preparation of key financial figures and the creation of presentations and teasers. During the three-month internship, I had the opportunity to work on several projects and thus get to know a wide variety of industries and their companies.

Both the very pleasant office atmosphere and a cooperative corporate culture enabled me to tackle the varied and challenging tasks with determination. Cowen colleagues always had an open ear for my concerns and supported me competently in solving problems. As I was informed about the progress of the project at all times and was able to participate in meetings, I always felt like a fully-fledged team member.

Looking back, I can unreservedly recommend an internship at Cowen for gaining a comprehensive insight into the medium-sized M&A business. During this quarter, I got to know the different project phases in a task-related manner, was able to expand my MS Office skills and optimize my personal time management.

(Internship period December 2017 – March 2018)

Stefan munk

During my 3-month internship, I was allowed to support the team in Cowen’s Leipzig office. I spent half of the time in Strategic Consulting, after which I switched to Financial Consulting.

This allowed me to gain versatile insights into different areas of the M&A business. Among other things, I was able to assist in the preparation of pitches, information memoranda and financial models. In addition, I was able to assist in due diligence processes and conduct longlist research. I particularly appreciated the fact that interns are always shown a great deal of trust. The background of the tasks was always explained in detail, which allowed me to develop enough understanding to solve problems independently. Feedback was given in a constructive manner at all times and helped to make rapid progress.

The team consists of competent and friendly employees, which is why there is always a pleasant, constructive atmosphere in the office. This environment and the appealing tasks mean that you can learn an incredible amount as an intern. I would therefore like to say thank you and would recommend the internship at any time.

(Internship period September 2017 – November 2017)

Nils klinghammer

During my internship at Cowen, I got to know the most diverse areas of M&A corporate consulting. Among other things, I worked on the preparation of pitches, market or competitor analyses and company valuations. This allowed me to put my theoretical knowledge of corporate valuation into practice, brush up on my data preparation skills in MS Office, and at the same time get to know completely new tools, databases and concepts.

Contrary to the general expectations of the consulting industry, Cowen offers humane working hours and a flat hierarchy, which allowed me to work directly with a partner on an independent project from day three. I always found a helpful colleague for any of my questions and in general I found the working atmosphere to be very familiar and pleasant. The concept of involving the interns in projects as comprehensively as possible greatly increased my learning curve. Thus, I not only got a deep insight into the M&A business, but also into the different industries of our clients.

(Internship period March 2017 – May 2017)

leander cortolezis

I received a very friendly welcome in the Leipzig office from day one and immediately felt as part of the team. The extremely pleasant atmosphere in the office as well as the way of dealing among colleagues and with partners are something special at Cowen.

During my internship, I was able to work on several projects. On the one hand, this included the preparation of comprehensive market and competitor analyses as well as company valuations based on multiples. In addition, I was familiarized with the calculation of transaction-related key figures and was responsible for the prepared presentation in Excel and PowerPoint. My other tasks included the analysis of financial reports as well as the review and correction of business plans.

Whenever I had any questions, I was always supported by the team and was able to learn a lot about the daily M&A business.

(Internship period July 2016 – September 2016)

Fabian Schulze

As part of an internship, I was allowed to support the team in the Leipzig office. The colleagues welcomed me very warmly and involved me fantastically in the daily work right from the start. As a result, I had a steep learning curve and was able to get to know the exciting world of M&A consulting.

The working hours are exceptional for the industry, so there is always a good work-life balance and time for joint activities with colleagues. Especially the contact besides work is a big plus for me.

Even during peak periods with increased workloads, I never got the impression that my questions were not being listened to. On the contrary, colleagues were always willing to discuss questions and overcome challenges together.

Working with the specialists on site, as well as the opportunity to work indirectly with the various partners, was very important to me from the very beginning, and I am pleased with the insights and experience I gained from industry and business.

My tasks were very broad. Among other things, I assisted in the creation of pitch presentations, supported the structuring of virtual data rooms, conducted company research, and created longlists and peer groups. Commercial due diligence, the preparation of annual financial statements and operational financials as well as support in multiple and company valuations were further key areas of activity. In addition, the fulfillment of the tasks was always associated with feedback. In addition to the numerous smaller tasks for various mandates, it was great that I was allowed to work on a specific project for the entire time. This allowed me to get very deep into the subject matter and to get in touch with the people in charge on the sell side. By working in the Strategic and Financial Consultants teams, I also gained a comprehensive insight into the complexity of the M&A business as well as the close integration and high level of coordination required between the individual departments.

(Internship period March 2015 – May 2015)

Sebastian Voigt

Right from the start, I got an intensive insight into the M&A business by working directly on a variety of task types. The activities ranged from working on pitch presentations and multiple company valuations to contributing to information memoranda and due diligence. In this way, I learned about the complexity of corporate transactions from a practical perspective and was able to apply knowledge gained from my studies, but also acquire knowledge far beyond that.

With the dynamic team in the centrally located Leipzig office, the cooperation was positive right from the start. I would like to emphasize that I was able to get more and more involved as I progressed along the “learning curve” and that I was gradually able to work directly with partners and clients. This, combined with the generally reasonable working hours, has made the time at BlueCF an instructive and pleasant professional station for me.

(Internship period February 2015 – March 2015)

Felix reibestein

The great strength of Blue is the team. The hierarchies are very flat and the direct contact to the partners is given quite quickly. There is always an open ear for questions and suggestions and you can count on your team even in stressful phases.

My tasks mainly included researching and preparing company, industry and market data, supporting several teams in projects, including the preparation of pitches or company presentations, and updating the company’s own investor database. The tasks at Blue are extremely varied because you are directly involved in various projects in a wide range of industries. This results in a high learning effect, because you have to think into the different topics and thus understand connections faster and better.

(Internship period September 2013 – February 2014; employee of Cowen Europe AG (formerly Quarton/Blue CF) since March 2014)

MARIE-LUISE MORGENROTH

For me, it was important to turn my back on everyday university life for the time being and get more involved in practice. That is why I decided to do an internship at the end of my bachelor’s degree. For me, a management consultancy meant varied and highly challenging work, with the special facets of the most diverse industries and markets.

I was not disappointed and was allowed to actively participate in the M&A process from the very beginning. My task focus was on the cooperation in market and company presentations as well as various pitches. Within the research for relevant information, I not only learned to recognize the essentials from a multitude of information, even under occasional time pressure, but also to present them in an easily understandable form in terms of content as well as graphically in the presentations. I also created and prioritized lists of potential targets and investors. Smaller challenges were assigned to me independently. In addition, I was able to support the Strategy and Financial Consulting teams, so that in the end I gained a comprehensive insight into the areas of the M&A business.

It was a learning-intensive six months. I was able to work with a competent team in which I was firmly integrated and valued – I would like to thank them very much and would not want to miss my time at Blue and the experience I gained.

(Internship period March 2013 – August 2013)

Lennart Junge

During my 6 months as an intern in Financial Consulting, I gained a general insight into the day-to-day business of consulting and was also able to acquire in-depth expertise in the field of business valuation. Teamwork is one of the pillars on which Blue’s success is based. Tasks and problems were solved across departments. In this way, I gained a holistic view of the process of a consulting mandate.

I found the close cooperation with HHL Leipzig to be a particular plus, as this means the work of Blue Corporate Finance is not only based on years of professional experience, but also supported from an academic point of view. For me, this was extremely helpful in closing the knowledge gap between theory and practice.

(Internship period August 2012 – January 2013)

Marco Stach

Overall, it was a great time at Blue in Leipzig. I was particularly impressed by the behavior of the employees and partners. No question was too much or too primitive. There were times when the stress was extremely high for all three departments and many high-priority projects had to be processed and completed at the same time. Even during these times, I never felt that I could not go to each individual and ask my question or request. On the other hand, I always felt challenged and that I also had to do my part to make the projects successful. Career-wise and especially from a personal point of view, this internship was an absolute hit!

(Internship period January 2011 – July 2011)

Sebastian nagel

As an intern at Blue, you are a full part of the team. Every day I was confronted with real problems from the M&A business and solving them required – besides some theoretical basics from my studies – logically structured work. Since some of the results go into recommendations to the client directly, you instantly get feedback on your performance from people with many years of industry experience. This is an experience that no university course can offer to this extent!

(Internship period June 2010 – September 2010)