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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 - 25 Private Equity Firms

Overall Employee Satisfaction (1)
Overall how satisfied are you working for this company?
Firm
YoY Δ
Percentile
Blackstone Group
96.0%
The Riverside Company
92.0%
Woori Financial Group
88.0%
KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts)
84.0%
Permira Advisers
80.0%
Capitol Partners
76.0%
Spencer Stuart
72.0%
American Capital
68.0%
CITIC Capital
64.0%
Hypatia Capital Group
60.0%

Percentile calculated based off of adjusted score only for private equity firms that received at least one vote (25 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
96.2%
Hypatia Capital Group
92.3%
Blackstone Group
88.5%
KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts)
84.6%
Permira Advisers
80.8%
American Capital
76.9%
Trillium Group
73.1%
CITIC Capital
69.2%
Fortress Investment Group
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.

Career Advancement Opportunities (1)
Your opportunities for career advancement?
Firm
YoY Δ
Percentile
The Riverside Company
96.2%
Hypatia Capital Group
92.3%
Woori Financial Group
88.5%
Blackstone Group
84.6%
KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts)
80.8%
Permira Advisers
76.9%
American Capital
73.1%
CITIC Capital
69.2%
Trillium Group
65.4%
Fortress Investment 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.

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 - 25 Private Equity Firms

Feedback (1)
Feedback you receive about your job performance?
Firm
YoY Δ
Percentile
The Riverside Company
96.0%
Woori Financial Group
92.0%
Blackstone Group
88.0%
Permira Advisers
84.0%
Capitol Partners
80.0%
American Capital
76.0%
Adams Street Partners
72.0%
CITIC Capital
68.0%
Hypatia Capital Group
64.0%
Tenaska Capital Management
60.0%

Percentile calculated based off of adjusted score only for private equity firms that received at least one vote (25 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
96.0%
Blackstone Group
92.0%
Woori Financial Group
88.0%
Capitol Partners
84.0%
Permira Advisers
80.0%
CITIC Capital
76.0%
Carlyle Group
72.0%
Hypatia Capital Group
68.0%
American Capital
64.0%
Spencer Stuart
60.0%

Percentile calculated based off of adjusted score only for private equity firms that received at least one vote (25 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
96.0%
Blackstone Group
92.0%
Permira Advisers
88.0%
The Halifax Group
84.0%
Spencer Stuart
80.0%
Tenaska Capital Management
76.0%
American Capital
72.0%
CITIC Capital
68.0%
Hypatia Capital Group
64.0%
Adams Street Partners
60.0%

Percentile calculated based off of adjusted score only for private equity firms that received at least one vote (25 total firms). See Methodology FAQ below for more information.

Company Specific Salary and Bonus Data Available

Compensation - 25 Private Equity Firms

Best Pay (1)
Your compensation compared with similar jobs elsewhere?
Firm
YoY Δ
Percentile
Blackstone Group
96.2%
KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts)
92.3%
The Riverside Company
88.5%
Permira Advisers
84.6%
The Halifax Group
80.8%
Spencer Stuart
76.9%
CITIC Capital
73.1%
Trillium Group
69.2%
Hypatia Capital Group
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.

Company Specific Salary and Bonus Data Available

Senior Management - 25 Private Equity Firms

Best Communication (1)
Communications from management about important issues and changes?
Firm
YoY Δ
Percentile
Blackstone Group
96.0%
The Riverside Company
92.0%
Permira Advisers
88.0%
Adams Street Partners
84.0%
Capitol Partners
80.0%
CITIC Capital
76.0%
Hypatia Capital Group
72.0%
KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts)
68.0%
Trivest Partners
64.0%
The Halifax Group
60.0%

Percentile calculated based off of adjusted score only for private equity firms that received at least one vote (25 total firms). See Methodology FAQ below for more information.

Best Teamwork (1)
Information and knowledge sharing withing company?
Firm
YoY Δ
Percentile
Blackstone Group
96.0%
The Riverside Company
92.0%
KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts)
88.0%
Permira Advisers
84.0%
Capitol Partners
80.0%
CITIC Capital
76.0%
Woori Financial Group
72.0%
Hypatia Capital Group
68.0%
The Halifax Group
64.0%
Summit Partners
60.0%

Percentile calculated based off of adjusted score only for private equity firms that received at least one vote (25 total firms). See Methodology FAQ below for more information.

Best Leadership (1)
Leadership abilities of senior management?
Firm
YoY Δ
Percentile
Blackstone Group
96.0%
The Riverside Company
92.0%
Hypatia Capital Group
88.0%
Permira Advisers
84.0%
Capitol Partners
80.0%
Carlyle Group
76.0%
CITIC Capital
72.0%
Tenaska Capital Management
68.0%
Woori Financial Group
64.0%
The Halifax Group
60.0%

Percentile calculated based off of adjusted score only for private equity firms that received at least one vote (25 total firms). See Methodology FAQ below for more information.

Competence (1)
Competence of senior management?
Firm
YoY Δ
Percentile
Blackstone Group
96.0%
The Riverside Company
92.0%
Woori Financial Group
88.0%
KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts)
84.0%
Permira Advisers
80.0%
Capitol Partners
76.0%
American Capital
72.0%
CITIC Capital
68.0%
Carlyle Group
64.0%
Hypatia Capital Group
60.0%

Percentile calculated based off of adjusted score only for private equity firms that received at least one vote (25 total firms). See Methodology FAQ below for more information.

Company Specific Salary and Bonus Data Available

Reputation - 25 Private Equity Firms

Proudest Employees (1)
Company as a place you are proud to work?
Firm
YoY Δ
Percentile
Blackstone Group
96.0%
KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts)
92.0%
The Riverside Company
88.0%
Hypatia Capital Group
84.0%
Woori Financial Group
80.0%
Trivest Partners
76.0%
Permira Advisers
72.0%
The Halifax Group
68.0%
Capitol Partners
64.0%
CITIC Capital
60.0%

Percentile calculated based off of adjusted score only for private equity firms that received at least one vote (25 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
96.0%
The Riverside Company
92.0%
Woori Financial Group
88.0%
Capitol Partners
84.0%
American Capital
80.0%
Permira Advisers
76.0%
CITIC Capital
72.0%
The Halifax Group
68.0%
CLSA
64.0%
Hypatia Capital Group
60.0%

Percentile calculated based off of adjusted score only for private equity firms that received at least one vote (25 total firms). See Methodology FAQ below for more information.

Company Specific Data Available

Life Style - 25 Private Equity Firms

Time Off (1)
Management support for needed time off?
Firm
YoY Δ
Percentile
The Riverside Company
96.0%
Woori Financial Group
92.0%
CLSA
88.0%
American Capital
84.0%
Brown Brothers Harriman
80.0%
The Halifax Group
76.0%
Permira Advisers
72.0%
CITIC Capital
68.0%
Hypatia Capital Group
64.0%
Capitol Partners
60.0%

Percentile calculated based off of adjusted score only for private equity firms that received at least one vote (25 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
96.0%
Woori Financial Group
92.0%
Permira Advisers
88.0%
American Capital
84.0%
Trivest Partners
80.0%
Brown Brothers Harriman
76.0%
The Halifax Group
72.0%
CITIC Capital
68.0%
Blackstone Group
64.0%
Hypatia Capital Group
60.0%

Percentile calculated based off of adjusted score only for private equity firms that received at least one vote (25 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
96.0%
Cerberus Capital Management
92.0%
Summit Partners
88.0%
KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts)
84.0%
Fortress Investment Group
80.0%
Partners Group
76.0%
Lovell Minnick Partners
72.0%
Tenaska Capital Management
68.0%
INVESCO Asset Management
64.0%
3i
60.0%

Percentile calculated based off of adjusted score only for private equity firms that received at least one vote (25 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
Gryphon Investors
77.5
Golden Gate Capital
76.7
Bain Capital
75.8
Montgomery & Co.
75.0
Levine Leichtman Capital Partners
75.0
TPG Global
75.0
Apollo Global Management
72.5
First Reserve
70.0
H.I.G. Capital
70.0
3i
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
Abbott Capital
55.0
Brook Venture
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 (24 total firms).

Historical Report Quick links

20242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011

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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