Equities in investment Banking
A:
Private equity and investment banking both raise capital for investing purposes but tend to do so in very different ways. In some aspects, they can be thought of as pursuing the same goal from opposite directions. Private equity firms collect high-net-worth funds and look for investments in other businesses, while investment banks find businesses and then go into the capital markets looking for ways to raise money from the investment crowd.
Sell-Side Vs. Buy-Side
Investment bankers work on the sell-side, meaning they sell business interest to investors. Their primary clients are corporations or private companies. When a company wants to go public or is working through a mergers and acquisition deal, it might solicit the help of an investment bank.
Private equity associates, conversely, work on the buy-side. They purchase business interests on behalf of investors who have already put up the money. On some occasions, private equity firms buy controlling interests in other businesses and are directly involved in management decisions.
Regulatory Challenges
In 1933, the United States became the first and only country in the world to forcibly separate investment banking and commercial banking. For the next 66 years, investment banking activities were completely divorced from commercial banking activities, such as taking deposits and making loans. These barriers were removed with the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999. Investment banks are still heavily regulated, most notably with proprietary trading restrictions from the Dodd-Frank Act of 2010.
Private equity, like hedge fund investing, has historically escaped most of the regulations that impact banks and publicly traded corporations. The logic behind a light regulatory hand is that most private equity investors are sophisticated and wealthy and as such can take care of themselves.
However, Dodd-Frank gave the SEC a green light to increase its control over private equity. In 2012, the very first private equity regulatory agency was created. Particular attention has been paid to advising fees and taxation of private equity activity.
Analysis
Investment banking analysis is much more careful, abstract and vague than private equity analysis. Part of this is explained by the compliance risks investment banks face; painting too specific or too rosy a picture can be perceived as misleading.
Another possible explanation is that private equity associates are much more likely to have "skin in the game, " so to speak. With their own capital on the line, and less patient clientele, private equity analysts often dig deeper and more critically.
Culture
Colloquial tales of a private equity associate lifestyle appear to be much more forgiving and balanced than their counterparts in investment banking. The strict, suit-and-tie, 14-hour and high-stress corporate culture popularized in movies and television tend to refer to investment banking.
Private equity firms are usually smaller and more selective about their employees; but once a hire is made, they care less about how performance is maintained. There are exceptions and overlaps in every industry, but there is sufficient testimonial from those with experience to suggest the average day is a little easier for private equity associates.
