Coming from a non-target, WSO was a fantastic resource for me in university. There are a ton of Canadians on the forum but not enough Canadian content so thought I'd try to give back to the community and help out with any questions about working in / recruiting at investment banks, private equity and hedge funds in Canada.
I graduated from a non-target in Canada, worked at a Canadian bank for two years and have been working in private equity for the last two years.
@bear396:
How many moose do you see on a per-week and per-annum basis? What is considered "high" moose-flow and "low" moose-flow?
How invested in maple syrup is your fund and what is your syrup brand acquisition strategy? Do you diversify with non-Canadian syrup at the risk of bad PR?
Do you pronounce "Leveraged Buyout" in the same way you pronounce "About?" So...like "Leveraged Buyooot?"
(1) Not all moose are the same. We look at it from a total lbs of moose per month basis rather than the number of moose. This is also not desirable hence why most Canadian private equity funds are located in Toronto and not Alberta or BC. Even the BC pension fund is located in Victoria rather than more moose-friendly locations.
(2) We tried to go to market with a maple syrup denominated fund but there wasn't any interest outside of Quebec. Non-Canadian maple syrup is not considered maple syrup.
(3) We generally just use the acronym. That way Americans can understand us.
I am wondering. How is PE able to really attract anyone when the hours are the same as I banking in canada AND there is no carry? What exactly is the draw here? And aren't the pension fund asset managers guys earning equal pay if not more? What exactly would be the draw to work at a Canadian PE firm? For instance, Nigel Wright is earning 2 million a year as a DIRECTOR in Onex, the largest PE firm in canada, just 2 steps down or so from CEO (who earned 90 million). Don't get me wrong 2 million is GOOD money. But I'd be a bit disappointed to be the director of the largest PE firm in the nation in its largest city and be halling just 2 million. Compare that to alot of guys in Asset Management who are earning the same if not more with less experience or in smaller funds. Also why is there such a giant gap in salary between the CEO (90 million highest in canada) and the director (2 million). How is that kind of salary even justified when the workers immediately beneath you are earning so (comparatively) little? I mean I know usually you increase your salary alot as you move up the chain but going from 2 million to 90 million???