Every summer, Argentum offers internships to a few talented students. This year, we had the pleasure of working with Sindre Jetmundsen Haugland and Silje Stenersen. Sindre is about to start his final year in Industrial Economics at NTNU in Trondheim, while Silje has just completed her master’s degree specializing in finance from the Norwegian School of Economics. Both quickly settled into our investment team. We spoke with Sindre and Silje about their experience this summer.

“Always been fascinated by private equity”

When we asked the two talented interns why they applied for an internship at Argentum, both mentioned their interest in private equity.

Sindre said he has always been fascinated by the private equity industry and sees PE as “the perfect mix of finance and strategy,” two areas that align with his interests.

– Argentum stands out as an ideal place to learn more about the industry, with exposure to various PE funds across Europe and the opportunity to participate in valuations and buy-side transactions, says Sindre.

Silje got to know Argentum better when she visited our offices in Bergen together with a finance group from NHH, who were invited to solve a case study at our office.

– I left with a positive impression of the company, Argentum seemed like an educational and engaging place to work, she says.

Joined calls with fund managers all over Europe

During the summer, both Silje and Sindre had the chance to broaden their understanding of how to perform valuations for both companies and funds. They both spent considerable time on valuations for ongoing deals and evaluating various investment opportunities.

– Some of the key skills I developed included learning how to value PE funds and understanding the critical factors to consider when choosing to invest in a specific fund, Silje says.

Interns at Argentum have the chance to join calls with fund managers across Europe and take part in our investment committee’s discussions.  

Sindre highlights the value of listening to discussions at the office and participating in conversations with fund managers, as these experiences provide valuable insight into the industry.

Advice for future interns at Argentum

When asked what advice they would give to future interns at Argentum, Sindre emphasizes the importance of seizing every opportunity.

– Jump on any new opportunities that arise, he advises, noting that everyone at Argentum is very willing to help and answer questions.

Both Sindre and Silje encourage future interns to take responsibility for their work and to absorb as much learning as possible.

– Be curious and don’t be afraid to make your presence known, says Silje.

Great experiences

Silje says the summer has been educational and has broadened her knowledge of private equity.

– I’ve been given interesting tasks, and it’s been an enjoyable place to work, with friendly and highly skilled employees, she continues. 

Sindre describes the summer as both challenging and exciting. He has appreciated the opportunity to work on real deals and participate in conversations with fund managers.

– There was a lot of independence, but I also had good support along the way and could always ask questions and test my ideas. Overall, it has been a very good experience, he concludes.

Argentum greatly appreciates the work Silje and Sindre have performed over the summer, and all the new perspectives and contributions they brought. We wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors!