Finance

PE investors bet on Hollywood — Lazard hikes pay — Diverse talent bidding wars

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Private equity investors are betting on Hollywood

Reese Witherspoon wearing a pink outfit and holding a drink in "Legally Blonde."

MGM Studios

A Blackstone-backed firm led by two ex-Disney execs poured $500 million into Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine, in a move that reflects investors’ push into showbiz. As the industry recovers from the pandemic, more private equity players are pouring money into entertainment. Here are 13 firms betting on Hollywood’s comeback.


Lazard is increasing junior investment bankers’ base comp

Ken Jacobs Lazard

James Leynse/Getty Images

Wall Street’s pay raise frenzy isn’t slowing down. Following Goldman Sachs’ decision to raise base pay for some junior investment bankers, Lazard announced it will raise first-year analyst salary to $100,000, second-year salary to $110,000, and third-year salary to $110,000. Here’s what we know about the raises so far.


Top money managers are in bidding wars over diverse talent

The Wall Street bull tempting suited hands with a one hundred dollar bill on a purple background

Samantha Lee/Insider

The competition for diverse talent on Wall Street is getting fierce — and in some cases, firms are making counteroffers that are 15% to 20% higher than initial offers to woo candidates. Everything you need to know about the battle for talent.


Credit Suisse is rebuilding after a senior staff exodus

credit suisse blunders 4x3

Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters; Skye Gould/Insider

Nearly 70 bankers, traders, and other employees have departed Credit Suisse in recent months. Now, the bank is starting to replenish its leadership and investment-banking teams. We have a rundown of who’s recently joined the bank.


Morgan Stanley just promoted a star in its credit division

Headshot of Rachel Russell, head of CLO syndicate at Morgan Stanley

Morgan Stanley

Rachel Russell, a Morgan Stanley lifer, was promoted to lead the firm’s collateralized loan obligation business — a red-hot corner of Wall Street that’s poised to set records in 2021. What we learned from the internal memo announcing her promotion.


General Atlantic’s wager on Duolingo is paying off after its big IPO

Woman with her smartphone poses in front of displayed Duolingo logo

Dado Ruvic/ Reuters

Duolingo’s IPO raised $521 million last week. Now, General Atlantic’s key tech dealmaker wants to “press its advantage” in the booming edtech sector. Why he thinks edtech is here to stay.


Fintech M&A is going into overdrive with Square’s $29 billion Afterpay deal

From left: Matthew Sharnoff of Bank of America, Jigar Patel of Morgan Stanley, Kelly Galanis of Goldman Sachs, and Tommaso Zanobini of Moelis & Company with yellow 3D dollar signs behind them on a green background

Bank of America; Morgan Stanley; Goldman Sachs; Moelis & Company; Samantha Lee/Insider

The fintech space has exploded in recent years, keeping Wall Street bankers busy. Here, a dozen heads of fintech investment banking gave us an inside look at dealmaking in the red-hot sector.


Chief marketing officer may be the most influential job in wealth management

digital wall street virtual remote work 1 2x1

Samantha Lee/Business Insider

Wealth management, now generally commoditized, is boiling down to a marketing business, with branding becoming one of the few ways firms can stand out. Here’s how marketing became crucial to wealth management.


Nominate someone for Insider’s 2021 class of Wall Street rising stars

real estate rising stars nominations 4x3

Samantha Lee/Business Insider

We’re putting together a power list of the young talent on Wall Street. If you know a standout in investment banking, investing, or sales and trading, you can nominate them here.


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