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400 Capital Management
David Portnoy launched 400 Capital Management in 2008, shortly after departing Goldman Sachs where he co-headed the firm's proprietary trading desk and...
400 Capital Management
David Portnoy launched 400 Capital Management in 2008, shortly after departing Goldman Sachs where he co-headed the firm's proprietary trading desk and credit business. The firm's name reflects his heritage as a fourth-generation investor. Portnoy co-founded the firm with John Dorfman, who serves as a partner. 400 Capital invests primarily across credit markets, with documented activity in structured credit, distressed debt, and special situations. The firm targets both public and private credit instruments, seeking to capitalize on market dislocations and inefficient pricing. Portfolio exposure is built through direct investments, often in liquid or semi-liquid credit securities, and the firm has participated in several large restructuring and bankruptcy-related trades. The firm maintains offices in four cities: Menlo Park (headquarters), Abu Dhabi, Chicago, and Boston. Team size is not publicly disclosed. 400 Capital has not publicly reported a total AUM figure or recent deployment totals, though media coverage has referenced it as a multi-billion dollar credit manager. The firm's Abu Dhabi office suggests a significant Middle East investor base or operational capability. 400 Capital operates as a traditional credit hedge fund, sourcing opportunities through established relationships with banks, broker-dealers, and restructuring advisors. Its structural differentiator is the deep credit market experience of its founder, who built one of the first dedicated credit trading desks at a major Wall Street bank, and the firm's ability to pivot across credit sub-asset classes as market conditions evolve.
General information
Firm type
Hedge Fund
Year founded
2008
AUM
$1B – $5B (Altss estimate)
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Menlo Park
Corporate office
Menlo Park, CA, United States
Additional offices
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates · Chicago, IL, United States · Boston, MA, United States
Principals
David Portnoy
Founder and Chief Investment Officer
John Dorfman
Co-Founder and Partner
Steven Jacobs
Partner
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at 400 Capital Management?
David Portnoy is the Founder and Chief Investment Officer, overseeing all investment decisions. He previously co-headed Goldman Sachs' proprietary trading desk and credit business. John Dorfman, a co-founder and partner, also plays a key role in the firm's investment process (per public record).
What investment strategies does 400 Capital Management focus on?
The firm focuses on credit-oriented strategies, including structured credit, distressed debt, and special situations. It invests across public and private credit markets, often targeting mispriced assets during periods of market dislocation (per public record).
Is 400 Capital Management a single family office or a hedge fund?
The firm operates as a hedge fund, not a family office. It manages capital from institutional and accredited investors, not a single family's wealth. Its multi-office structure—Menlo Park, Abu Dhabi, Chicago, Boston—supports a global credit investment platform.
Does 400 Capital Management invest in fund commitments or direct deals?
The firm primarily makes direct investments in credit securities and instruments, rather than committing capital to external funds. It sources opportunities through proprietary relationships with banks, broker-dealers, and restructuring advisors (per public record).
Where does the underlying wealth for 400 Capital Management come from?
The source of the firm's capital base is not publicly disclosed. It manages external investor capital and does not appear to be a family office managing a single fortune. The Abu Dhabi office suggests a connection to Middle Eastern institutional capital.
What is 400 Capital Management's total assets under management?
400 Capital Management does not publicly disclose its AUM. Media references and industry estimates place the firm in the multi-billion dollar range, with Altss estimating $1B–$5B (Altss estimate).
How does 400 Capital Management differentiate from other credit hedge funds?
The firm's founder, David Portnoy, was an early architect of Goldman Sachs' proprietary credit trading desk, giving the firm deep structural expertise in credit markets. This background allows 400 Capital to operate across multiple credit sub-asset classes and capitalize on dislocations that more narrowly focused firms may miss (per public record).
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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