Europe/London: Solid MM/LMM Shops vs UMM/MF

Hi all, IB monkey looking at exits here.

Considering PE for the long-haul as I interned in the field and really enjoyed it. There is little discussion on the forum about smaller PE shops such as Montagu or IK Investment Partners. They both have consistently raised funds and have quite good returns.

I could imagine the path to partner being more straightforward than at a UMM/MF. How would the comp compare at a solid shop such as Montagu vs larger funds? Is there a huge discount? Am I missing something here? I don't mind the lack of "perceived prestige". 

4 Comments
 

I wouldn't necessarily think that the path to partner is more straightforward at LMM / MM firms. For smaller firms, exit opportunities are not as wide. As a result, people do not move around as much. Therefore, you will often see seniors sticking around for longer, making it more difficult to advance at LMM / MM funds. Meanwhile, at MFs you have a stronger brand name and thus wider exit opps. Wider exit opps in combination with rough hours result in people moving around much more. However, if you are at a LMM / MM fund that is growing very rapidly then I imagine that opens up a lot of options. 

Know a few people in the Stockholm office of IK Partners and it's known as a sweatshop. 

 

I wouldn't necessarily think that the path to partner is more straightforward at LMM / MM firms. For smaller firms, exit opportunities are not as wide. As a result, people do not move around as much. Therefore, you will often see seniors sticking around for longer, making it more difficult to advance at LMM / MM funds. Meanwhile, at MFs you have a stronger brand name and thus wider exit opps.

I do agree with this. Trade off is more likely to be granted carry early on and actually stay around to realise it. 

Whereas larger funds, probably higher cash comp short term, but harder to get carry (and stay) - although more optionality to move 'downmarket'. 

 

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