How much more quantitative is PE than Ibanking?

My understanding is that once you get to VP/MD at an ibank, most of your work involves meeting with clients and pitching deals. Hedge funds would obviously be at the other end of the spectrum as you spend the whole day in front of a computer.

Where does PE fit in this? Do MDs at top PE firms still have to do a lot of wining and dining or is it mostly quantitative work?

Also, advancement in ibanking depends a lot on your interpersonal skills, what about PE? Is it more quantitative and performance driven?

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bugattiAlso, advancement in ibanking depends a lot on your interpersonal skills, what about PE? Is it more quantitative and performance driven?

I think its performance driven everywhere. I know a lot of people that are a lot of fun to be around, but I wouldn't want them on my deal team.

I'm not sure exactly how seniors in PE generate business, I'd assume its more business management/idea generation focused than schmoozing with clients. You're not really riding on the coat tails of someone else's deals like in banking. You have to actually come up with investment ideas and identify opportunities, execute them, and they obviously have to be profitable.

Also there's probably a component tied to how much capital you bring in to the fund through your relationships, I could be way off base on that though. Anyone know how that works, btw?

I wouldn't really classify anything in banking or PE as quantitative per se. Alot of it (PE) is capital structure, strategy, and deal making.

 
Best Response

You would be surprised how much schmoozing is involved at the senior level in PE. PE guys need bankers as much as bankers need PE guys (i.e. financing, deal leads, etc.). PE is no more quantitative than IB and neither IB nor PE is very quantitative. A high school student could be taught to model/analyze transactions given the appropriate industry guidance, excel training and ability to add/sub/multiply/divide. Senior PE guys generally run the roadshow during the capital raising cycle, after that they are responsible for identifying deals, arranging financing, interacting with LPs, etc. The most quantitative work is generally performed by analysts/associates. Very rarely do the senior guys get their hands dirty with models and analysis.

Marcus, I have no insight as to the correlation between dollars raised/deals sourced to comp. Ive seen all of the employment agreements and equity pools at my shop and its generally not outlined. I assume maybe it is part of year end discretionary bonuses but def not related to the carry (althought Im sure you can negotiate for a higher % of the carry/equity pool if you are bringing in dollars and drumming up deals.)

 

so would hedge funds be a better choice for someone less interested in "schmoozing" and more interested in quantitative work?

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