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Overview
CDPQ, or Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, is a Canadian pension fund that manages over C$400B worth of public investment plans within the province of Québec. The firm makes investments in private equity, infrastructure, fixed income, real estate, equity markets, and venture capital.
The organization was established in 1965 and has grown to become one of the largest institutional investors in Canada, with a global presence. The organization is also focused on supporting the growth and development of Quebec-based companies and has a dedicated team that invests in local businesses. CDPQ's investment approach is grounded in research and analysis, and it seeks to identify opportunities that offer long-term value creation.
Remember that in order to craft a great answer to the common question "Why this Firm?", it's your responsibility to read articles and speak with employees. If you are interviewing with CDPQ, you should make sure you know:
1 deal that the investment team you are recruiting with has done
1 person at the firm (ideally someone who would have influence over your recruiting process)
1 business model-specific detail to mention
We explain how to answer qualitative questions and research private equity firms in our Private Equity Course. We also teach how to build LBO models and prepare for case study interviews.
Selected Transaction
In line with its historical focus on private placements as opposed to acquisitions, CDPQ partnered with Canadian private debt fund Finalta to provide financing to Lion Electric, an electric vehicle producer.
Transaction Description: The Lion Electric Company announced that it has entered into an agreement for a new credit facility funded equally by new lender, Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec and existing lender, Finalta Capital Inc.
Transaction Date: Closed November 2022
Transaction Value: $30mm
Fact Sheet
Company Name: CDPQ
Description: Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) is an institutional investor that manages several public and parapublic pension plans and insurance programs in Quebec
Firm Category: Pension Plan
Status: CDPQ is a privately held company
Founded: 1965
Assets Under Management: $390B
Chief Executive Officer: Charles Emond
Headquarters: Québec City, Canada
Resources
Based on Glassdoor, the average base salary for an Analyst at CDPQ is $80k. We note that this salary information may be dated and not reflective of their current pay.