Why do PE firms publicly disclose their portcos on their webpage, but investment banks can't say what companies they are advising?
| +94 | Do people still want to go PE? | 28 | 9h |
| +60 | Bloomberg - New UBS Investment Bankers See Smaller Pay Gain on Promotion | 12 | 2d |
| +46 | Think I'm fucking up my analyst years | 16 | 2d |
| +30 | Lazard hirevue | 10 | 10h |
| +29 | What Differentiates the Best Analysts as AI Improves? | 7 | 7h |
| +27 | Big 4 M&A vs. Lincoln Portfolio Valuations | 6 | 4d |
| +26 | Ambitious CC Student trying to break into IB | 13 | 2d |
| +24 | UBS Layoffs (October 2026) | 11 | 29m |
| +22 | Not doing well mentally, how are others doing? | 7 | 4d |
| +18 | Cornell Club T10 Rankings (UPDATED 10/2026) | 14 | 5h |
Career Resources
Get instant access to lessons taught by experienced private equity pros and bulge bracket investment bankers including financial statement modeling, DCF, M&A, LBO, Comps and Excel Modeling.
Never ask this in an interview.
Every client of the bank has signed a CA ("Confidentiality Agreement") or NDA ("Non-Disclosure Agreement") - they are the same thing, just with different titles.
Most clients wouldn't want other people to know they are "up for sale" or "exploring strategic alternatives". For public companies, this would cause SEC-related issues.
If you are talking about the debt side of investment banks (or equity for that matter) - all of the players are listed on the offerings.
You're comparing apples and oranges. PE firms can disclose their portfolio companies because the deals in which the PE firm acquired each portfolio company has already closed. Similarly, banks can advertise what clients they have advised, assuming the deal has already closed and been announced.
PE firms can't (usually) disclose what transactions they are working on, assuming the transaction is ongoing and hasn't closed yet, just like how the bank that is advising them or the target can't disclose who they are advising.
Ullam ipsa cumque iste facere. Non et et aperiam. Inventore velit sunt ut et sequi et. Vel temporibus excepturi est ratione quo nulla. Et dolor debitis odit vero et ut consequatur.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...