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Private Equity Company Statistics - As of December, 2011

These statistics are based solely on all user submissions to the WSO Company Database for employment through December, 2011. Each company is given an adjusted score using Bayesian estimates, which takes into account the number of reviews for a particular company. For more details, please see the Methodology FAQ below.
Hardest Interviews (1)
What fund has the hardest interview?
Firm
YoY Δ
Percentile
Blackstone Group
90.9%
Bain Capital
81.8%
H.I.G. Capital
72.7%
Permira Advisers
63.6%
Brown Brothers Harriman
54.5%
The Riverside Company
45.5%
Morehead Capital
36.4%
Advent International Corporation
27.3%
Abbott Capital
18.2%
Carl Marks and Co
9.1%

Percentile calculated only based off of private equity firms that received at least two interview insights (11 total firms). See Methodology FAQ below for more information.

Best Interview Experience (1)
What fund has the best interview experience?
Firm
YoY Δ
Percentile
Bain Capital
90.9%
Blackstone Group
81.8%
Carl Marks and Co
72.7%
Brown Brothers Harriman
63.6%
H.I.G. Capital
54.5%
Permira Advisers
45.5%
Abbott Capital
36.4%
Morehead Capital
27.3%
Advent International Corporation
18.2%
Henderson Global Investors
9.1%

Percentile calculated only based off of private equity firms that received at least two interview insights (11 total firms). See Methodology FAQ below for more information.

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Professional Growth and Career Opportunities - 26 Private Equity Firms

Overall Employee Satisfaction (1)
Overall how satisfied are you working for this company?
Firm
YoY Δ
Percentile
Blackstone Group
96.2%
The Riverside Company
92.3%
KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts)
88.5%
Permira Advisers
84.6%
Capitol Partners
80.8%
Spencer Stuart
76.9%
American Capital
73.1%
CITIC Capital
69.2%
Hypatia Capital Group
65.4%
Trivest Partners
61.5%

Percentile calculated based off of adjusted score only for private equity firms that received at least one vote (26 total firms). See Methodology FAQ below for more information.

Professional Growth Opportunities (1)
Your opportunities for professional growth?
Firm
YoY Δ
Percentile
The Riverside Company
96.3%
KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts)
92.6%
Blackstone Group
88.9%
Hypatia Capital Group
85.2%
American Capital
81.5%
Permira Advisers
77.8%
Trillium Group
74.1%
CITIC Capital
70.4%
Tenaska Capital Management
66.7%
Capitol Partners
63.0%

Percentile calculated based off of adjusted score only for private equity firms that received at least one vote (27 total firms). See Methodology FAQ below for more information.

Career Advancement Opportunities (1)
Your opportunities for career advancement?
Firm
YoY Δ
Percentile
The Riverside Company
96.3%
Hypatia Capital Group
92.6%
Blackstone Group
88.9%
KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts)
85.2%
Permira Advisers
81.5%
American Capital
77.8%
CITIC Capital
74.1%
Trillium Group
70.4%
Fortress Investment Group
66.7%
Adams Street Partners
63.0%

Percentile calculated based off of adjusted score only for private equity firms that received at least one vote (27 total firms). See Methodology FAQ below for more information.

Intern Offer Rates (1)
Average percentage of interns receiving full time offers
Firm
YoY Δ
Percentile

Simple average based off of private equity firms that received at least one intern offer data point (0 total firms). See Methodology FAQ below for more information.

Company Specific Salary and Bonus Data Available

Promotions and Fairness - 26 Private Equity Firms

Feedback (1)
Feedback you receive about your job performance?
Firm
YoY Δ
Percentile
The Riverside Company
96.2%
Blackstone Group
92.3%
Permira Advisers
88.5%
Capitol Partners
84.6%
Adams Street Partners
80.8%
American Capital
76.9%
TPG Global
73.1%
CITIC Capital
69.2%
Hypatia Capital Group
65.4%
Tenaska Capital Management
61.5%

Percentile calculated based off of adjusted score only for private equity firms that received at least one vote (26 total firms). See Methodology FAQ below for more information.

Best Recognition (1)
Recognition and praise you receive when you do a good job?
Firm
YoY Δ
Percentile
The Riverside Company
96.2%
Blackstone Group
92.3%
Capitol Partners
88.5%
Permira Advisers
84.6%
CITIC Capital
80.8%
TPG Global
76.9%
Carlyle Group
73.1%
Hypatia Capital Group
69.2%
American Capital
65.4%
Woori Financial Group
61.5%

Percentile calculated based off of adjusted score only for private equity firms that received at least one vote (26 total firms). See Methodology FAQ below for more information.

Most Fair (1)
Fairness in how promotions are given and people are treated?
Firm
YoY Δ
Percentile
The Riverside Company
96.2%
Blackstone Group
92.3%
Permira Advisers
88.5%
The Halifax Group
84.6%
Spencer Stuart
80.8%
Tenaska Capital Management
76.9%
American Capital
73.1%
CITIC Capital
69.2%
Hypatia Capital Group
65.4%
Adams Street Partners
61.5%

Percentile calculated based off of adjusted score only for private equity firms that received at least one vote (26 total firms). See Methodology FAQ below for more information.

Company Specific Salary and Bonus Data Available

Compensation - 26 Private Equity Firms

Best Pay (1)
Your compensation compared with similar jobs elsewhere?
Firm
YoY Δ
Percentile
Blackstone Group
96.3%
KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts)
92.6%
The Riverside Company
88.9%
Permira Advisers
85.2%
The Halifax Group
81.5%
Spencer Stuart
77.8%
TPG Global
74.1%
CITIC Capital
70.4%
Trillium Group
66.7%
Hypatia Capital Group
63.0%

Percentile calculated based off of adjusted score only for private equity firms that received at least one vote (27 total firms). See Methodology FAQ below for more information.

Company Specific Salary and Bonus Data Available

Senior Management - 26 Private Equity Firms

Best Communication (1)
Communications from management about important issues and changes?
Firm
YoY Δ
Percentile
Blackstone Group
96.2%
The Riverside Company
92.3%
Permira Advisers
88.5%
Adams Street Partners
84.6%
Capitol Partners
80.8%
CITIC Capital
76.9%
Hypatia Capital Group
73.1%
KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts)
69.2%
Trivest Partners
65.4%
The Halifax Group
61.5%

Percentile calculated based off of adjusted score only for private equity firms that received at least one vote (26 total firms). See Methodology FAQ below for more information.

Best Teamwork (1)
Information and knowledge sharing withing company?
Firm
YoY Δ
Percentile
Blackstone Group
96.2%
The Riverside Company
92.3%
KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts)
88.5%
TPG Global
84.6%
Capitol Partners
80.8%
CITIC Capital
76.9%
Permira Advisers
73.1%
Hypatia Capital Group
69.2%
Adams Street Partners
65.4%
Summit Partners
61.5%

Percentile calculated based off of adjusted score only for private equity firms that received at least one vote (26 total firms). See Methodology FAQ below for more information.

Best Leadership (1)
Leadership abilities of senior management?
Firm
YoY Δ
Percentile
Blackstone Group
96.2%
The Riverside Company
92.3%
Hypatia Capital Group
88.5%
CITIC Capital
84.6%
Capitol Partners
80.8%
Carlyle Group
76.9%
Tenaska Capital Management
73.1%
Permira Advisers
69.2%
Adams Street Partners
65.4%
TPG Global
61.5%

Percentile calculated based off of adjusted score only for private equity firms that received at least one vote (26 total firms). See Methodology FAQ below for more information.

Competence (1)
Competence of senior management?
Firm
YoY Δ
Percentile
Blackstone Group
96.2%
The Riverside Company
92.3%
KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts)
88.5%
Permira Advisers
84.6%
Capitol Partners
80.8%
American Capital
76.9%
CITIC Capital
73.1%
TPG Global
69.2%
Carlyle Group
65.4%
Hypatia Capital Group
61.5%

Percentile calculated based off of adjusted score only for private equity firms that received at least one vote (26 total firms). See Methodology FAQ below for more information.

Company Specific Salary and Bonus Data Available

Reputation - 26 Private Equity Firms

Proudest Employees (1)
Company as a place you are proud to work?
Firm
YoY Δ
Percentile
Blackstone Group
96.2%
KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts)
92.3%
The Riverside Company
88.5%
Hypatia Capital Group
84.6%
Trivest Partners
80.8%
Permira Advisers
76.9%
The Halifax Group
73.1%
Capitol Partners
69.2%
TPG Global
65.4%
CITIC Capital
61.5%

Percentile calculated based off of adjusted score only for private equity firms that received at least one vote (26 total firms). See Methodology FAQ below for more information.

Recommended (1)
Company as a place you would recommend to others to work?
Firm
YoY Δ
Percentile
Blackstone Group
96.2%
The Riverside Company
92.3%
Capitol Partners
88.5%
American Capital
84.6%
Permira Advisers
80.8%
CITIC Capital
76.9%
The Halifax Group
73.1%
CLSA
69.2%
Hypatia Capital Group
65.4%
Adams Street Partners
61.5%

Percentile calculated based off of adjusted score only for private equity firms that received at least one vote (26 total firms). See Methodology FAQ below for more information.

Company Specific Data Available

Life Style - 26 Private Equity Firms

Time Off (1)
Management support for needed time off?
Firm
YoY Δ
Percentile
The Riverside Company
96.2%
American Capital
92.3%
CLSA
88.5%
Brown Brothers Harriman
84.6%
Permira Advisers
80.8%
CITIC Capital
76.9%
The Halifax Group
73.1%
Hypatia Capital Group
69.2%
Lovell Minnick Partners
65.4%
Carlyle Group
61.5%

Percentile calculated based off of adjusted score only for private equity firms that received at least one vote (26 total firms). See Methodology FAQ below for more information.

Best Work/Life Balance (1)
Employer support in balancing between work life and personal life?
Firm
YoY Δ
Percentile
The Riverside Company
96.2%
Permira Advisers
92.3%
American Capital
88.5%
Trivest Partners
84.6%
Brown Brothers Harriman
80.8%
The Halifax Group
76.9%
CITIC Capital
73.1%
Blackstone Group
69.2%
Hypatia Capital Group
65.4%
Capitol Partners
61.5%

Percentile calculated based off of adjusted score only for private equity firms that received at least one vote (26 total firms). See Methodology FAQ below for more information.

Worst Work/Life Balance (1)
Employer support in balancing between work life and personal life?
Firm
YoY Δ
Percentile
Audax Group
96.2%
Cerberus Capital Management
92.3%
TPG Global
88.5%
Summit Partners
84.6%
KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts)
80.8%
Fortress Investment Group
76.9%
Partners Group
73.1%
Lovell Minnick Partners
69.2%
Tenaska Capital Management
65.4%
INVESCO Asset Management
61.5%

Percentile calculated based off of adjusted score only for private equity firms that received at least one vote (26 total firms). See Methodology FAQ below for more information.

Most Average Hours Worked (1)
How many hours do you work an average?
Firm
YoY Δ
Percentile
Audax Group
83.0
Blackstone Group
81.5
TPG Global
78.8
Gryphon Investors
77.5
Golden Gate Capital
76.7
Bain Capital
75.8
Montgomery & Co.
75.0
Apollo Global Management
72.5
3i
70.0
H.I.G. Capital
70.0
First Reserve
70.0
Cerberus Capital Management
68.3
Tailwind Capital
66.7
American Capital
65.0
Spencer Stuart
65.0
Wind Point Partners
65.0
KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts)
60.0
Brook Venture
55.0
Abbott Capital
55.0
Mesirow Financial
55.0
HarbourVest
51.7
Brown Brothers Harriman
51.0
Fortress Investment Group
48.3

Only includes private equity firms that received at least three submissions with hourly data (23 total firms).

Historical Report Quick links

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Company Specific Salary and Bonus Data Available

Methodology FAQ

How often is this data updated?
The rankings are constantly changing and evolving based on additional data we collect every day. The graphs and tables use the data from YTD and the prior 2 years. See tabs located above on this page to access previous year rankings.
Why do the average compensation numbers look so low?
Remember that the compensation you are accustomed to hearing for top performers in the top groups in New York is well above the average for cities around the world. The compensation average graphs are a global average which includes regional cities and groups that bring the average down. If you would like company and group specific compensation data, please visit the WSO Company Database.
Where does this data come from?
The compensation, review and interview data comes from WSO member submissions to the WSO Company Database. With over 50,000 submissions to date across thousands of companies, the database is solely a representation of what our members were paid and how they rank companies on various metrics. Please see below for a detailed breakdown of the member statistics for those that have contributed to the database.
What are the percentile rankings based on?
The percentile rankings of companies listed here are based on the current YTD and the prior two years of data for companies that received at least one vote. The simple average scores are converted into an Adjusted Score before the companies are ranked to take into account companies with a smaller sample size. This method uses Bayesian Statistics.
Why do you use Bayesian Statistics to adjust scores?
This methodology is used in order to account for standard deviation in rankings. As a company gets more rankings and data, we have more confidence that the average ranking is a true reflection of reality, so this is reflected in the adjusted scores and Percentile rankings. Learn more about Bayesian Statistics here.
Why don't I see company XYZ?
Some great smaller firms may not be represented in the rankings for the simple reason that we have not collected enough data to represent them accurately or for us to have enough data to display them at all.
What is the geographical representation of the submissions?
The WSO user base is very US-centric with approximately 70% of all submissions coming within the United States of America. Please see the detailed breakdown of the member statistics for those that have contributed to the database. For more company and city specific compensation, please visit the WSO Company Database.

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