Credit Suisse Credit Investments Group vs Blackstone, Octogan, CIFC, etc?

Currently looking at debt roles on the buyside and leaning towards liquid credit over private due to personal preferences.

Does anyone on this sub know anything about the credit investments group at credit suisse? I see they market themselves as one of the largest CLO managers but haven’t heard much about them and mainly hear about blackstone, octogan, cifc and etc

Curious on how an AM arm of a bank compares to some of the bigger names. Any insights on reputation, pay, or whatever else about the group would be greatly appreciated

 
Most Helpful

Have heard really good things about CSAM, but only really about the CLO platform. Definitely a top tier CLO manager if that is what you are interested in pursuing, largest in the US and have pretty decent scale across the rest of HY/Loans. Can't comment on their process/culture, but I'd wager its a good place to be. Probably a more structured environment vs a boutique/CLO-focused shop, but from a junior perspective I wouldn't think the experience would be too different. I'd imagine the difference is more nuanced as it relates to career development/titles vs at a smaller shop getting in at the junior level is a career-type seat where you can take on some more responsibility.

 

Usually it’s 70% LevFin (maybe few IBers from coverage), 20% guys from credit research/trading and 10% from other backgrounds (most often started in credit investing post UG/MBA). You also see some ex PE / PC guys that want to chill but these would often have done LevFin before anyways. 

Note that these seats pay decently well and offer little if any stress and little career risk - you gotta deploy your CLO and the day the market turns you say sorry guys look at the market its not us. So a lot of people out there keep their seat for a very long time and its hard to move up, there is usually 1PM for the CLO strategy and he has maybe 10-20 analysts (depending on size of the CLO and analyst seniority) covering each industry. 

 

forgot to mention and answer the last part of your question. without a doubt, the worst part of the group is being a part of CS. there is so much unnecessary bureaucracy, negative headlines/noise that puts some strain on comp (especially deferred comp, clawbacks). these are things you do not find at an independent asset manager. 

 

Possimus sapiente temporibus adipisci ducimus et. Molestiae eos quia ipsam in exercitationem omnis.

Career Advancement Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. New 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (86) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (145) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
9
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
10
numi's picture
numi
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”