Canadian PE Comp

I have seen a lot of variation in comp among the different firms in Toronto and was wondering what other firms are currently paying. Additionally if there is any indication of comp increases coming given a tight labour market in TO and banking increases.

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Worse than Canadian IB. The only way you will make more than your IB peers is if you're at Altus/Onex/Oncap. Maybe Whitehorse too, but they're secondaries-focused and I don't know enough to speak on them. Perhaps someone can correct me if they've heard otherwise from their fund directly, but IMO there's no chance for comp increases, as PE funds have their pick of the litter. Look at Clairvest for example - they always have quality associates yet are known to pay at the lower end of the range. 

Aso1 ranges can vary significantly - from my understanding all-in 140 to 180 at a non-pension. 

The reason I still went into Canadian PE despite the relatively worse pay: (i) the pay is still very good relative to most jobs; (ii) lifestyle has generally been much better (though this will be fund dependent and should be a focus of diligence if WLB matters to you); (iii) work is infinitely more interesting and meaningful (though that's a personal take... I understand psychopaths exist that somehow genuinely enjoy client advisory); and (iv) I figured it'd be more relevant / I'd take away more applicable skills and lessons if I ever wanted to do something entrepreneurial. 

Hope that's helpful. 

 

Agree with the above comment. Pay is drastically lower than at the Big 5 banks. For instance, let's say you were to leave your Aso1 role at a Big 5 bank to join a non-pension PE shop (other than Onex/Altus/Oncap), you would give up 270-290k all-in comp for approximately 160-200k all-in comp. This is considerable and the gap widens exponentially for the first few years. Once you reach VP at a PE shop, the lines are obviously blurred since carry can become quite material ("can", not "will").


The gap is similar but slightly lower at the analyst level. 1st year analysts at my bank make approximately 180k all-in. Some of them have exited to PE analyst roles that pay 110-130k.

 

Whats the pay range for Analyst/Associates at the big pensions ? CPP and OTPP particularly? Is it inline with what youd make at a Big 5 (assuming thats 160-170k)

 

First-year analysts at the Big 5 make 170-190k all-in, which is higher than what the pensions pay at the analyst level. At the first-year associate level in the Big 5, associates make 130-140k base and bonuses of approximately 100% (260-290k all-in), which again is higher than what the large pensions pay at the associate level. Can't provide exact ranges for the large pensions though.

 

CPP/OTPP pay $150-160k for first years while Canadian Ibanking pays $170-190k first year

 

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