PE compensation in Australia

Hi,

I'm currently recruiting for PE roles in Australia. I also have a hedge fund offer; so I'd like some points of comparison for compensation progression. I have some good data points for the US but want to see how they square up.

I also understand there's a mix of small, medium, and large firms so I'd also be keen to hear how the likes of KKR, PEP would stake up against funds like Anchorage, Quadrant etc.

How does the principal -> director -> MD -> partner

ladder look like and what comp should be expected at these levels?

17 Comments
 

Oz is a funny one - in some industries you'll get more than in London (Telecoms made an offer for significantly more than in central London), but banking seems a bit off. Their banks also operate in different ways, apparently? I have never worked in Australia, so this is all I can say, unfortunately.

But I do have a lot of friends who left for Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane and... they never came back! apparently a very cool place to be.

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As far as I know the role progression is analyst/associate > investment manager > investment director > partner. 

In some funds carry can be granted even at an Associate level which is a plus. However, it is not as well structured/may not vest as mega fund carry does (i.e. can lose it if you leave). 

Bonuses typically 50-100%. 

Biggest local funds are: PEP and BGH. 

Quadrant is probably one of the best performing funds, it shows up on global ranking tables.  

 

By bonuses do you mean cash bonus? Also the promotion ladder / titles seem to be different across firms. At PEP it looks like director -> MD and seems quite top heavy while KKR its principal -> director -> MD -> partner? How would these map onto US-centric roles?

BGH is very new and it'll be interesting to see how they perform. Quadrant from what I have heard has fantastic execution.

 

Anyone have any insight into how BGH is tracking? I was curious how such a big fund would fare in a relatively small market, assumed they would have to swing at all the take privates and compete with the larger regional funds in every deal. 

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