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ZAIS Group
ZAIS Group was founded in 1999 by J. Bradley Zackson, who remains President and Chief Investment Officer.
ZAIS Group
ZAIS Group was founded in 1999 by J. Bradley Zackson, who remains President and Chief Investment Officer. The firm specializes in credit markets, with a focus on structured credit, mortgage-backed securities, and private credit. Zackson's background includes prior roles at Goldman Sachs and UBS. The firm targets investment-grade and non-investment-grade credit, investing across residential mortgage-backed securities, commercial mortgage-backed securities, and collateralized loan obligations. ZAIS also engages in private credit through direct lending and mezzanine debt. The firm runs both long-only and opportunistic strategies. ZAIS invests primarily in North American credit markets. The team includes CEO David Dullum and a group of portfolio managers and analysts. The firm's headquarters is in Red Bank, New Jersey, with additional presence noted in New York City historically. ZAIS differentiates itself through a research-intensive approach to mortgage and structured credit, relying on in-house fundamental credit analysis rather than relying on rating agencies. The firm operates as a registered investment adviser and maintains a focus on institutional-grade risk management.
General information
Firm type
Asset Manager
Year founded
1999
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Red Bank
Corporate office
Red Bank, NJ, United States
Principals
J. Bradley Zackson
President & Chief Investment Officer
David Dullum
Chief Executive Officer
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at ZAIS Group?
J. Bradley Zackson serves as President and Chief Investment Officer, leading the firm's investment strategy since its founding in 1999. David Dullum is Chief Executive Officer. The firm's investment committee includes senior portfolio managers with expertise in structured credit and mortgage markets.
What types of credit does ZAIS Group invest in?
ZAIS focuses on structured credit including residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS), commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS), and collateralized loan obligations (CLOs). The firm also invests in private credit through direct lending and mezzanine debt across investment-grade and non-investment-grade segments.
How does ZAIS Group source deal flow in private credit?
ZAIS originates private credit investments through direct relationships with middle-market companies and sponsors, as well as through secondary market purchases of structured credit instruments. The firm's research team conducts fundamental credit analysis in-house.
Is ZAIS Group a family office or a registered investment adviser?
ZAIS Group operates as a registered investment adviser (RIA), managing capital for institutional clients including pension funds, endowments, and family offices. It is not a family office but an asset manager specializing in credit strategies.
Does ZAIS Group co-invest alongside external managers?
ZAIS invests both through commingled funds and separately managed accounts. It may co-invest with other institutional investors in structured credit and private credit deals, though its primary model is managing discretionary accounts.
What is ZAIS Group's geographic investment focus?
The firm primarily invests in North American credit markets, with a focus on the United States. Its portfolio is concentrated in mortgage and structured credit assets linked to U.S. residential and commercial real estate.
What distinguishes ZAIS Group from other credit managers?
ZAIS emphasizes fundamental, bottom-up credit analysis rather than relying on rating agency assessments. Its deep expertise in mortgage-backed securities and structured credit is a core differentiator, alongside a long track record spanning over two decades.
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