Overview
Och-Ziff Capital Management Group LLC is a leading, global institutional alternative asset management firm. We are one of the largest alternative asset managers in the world, with approximately $22.1 billion of assets under management for over 700 fund investors as of January 1, 2009. We have a strong investment track record spanning more than 13 years, which we believe makes us one of the longest standing alternative asset managers in the world.
We were founded in 1994 by Daniel Och, together with the Ziff family, with the goal of building an enduring, world-class investment management business. Prior to founding our company, Mr. Och spent over 11 years at Goldman, Sachs & Co. Mr. Och instilled the team-based culture he experienced at Goldman Sachs into our firm, and this approach has helped us become a leader in our industry.
We have been at the forefront of international expansion among alternative asset managers. We offer a truly global investment platform with over 150 investment professionals in our offices in New York, London, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Bangalore and Beijing. This presence gives us the knowledge, access and ability to identify and source attractive investment opportunities across the globe.
Our funds seek to deliver consistent positive risk-adjusted returns throughout market cycles, with a strong focus on risk management and capital preservation. Portfolio composition is determined by market opportunities rather than any predetermined commitment to investment discipline or geography. Our diversified, multi-strategy approach is based on global investment strategies, including merger arbitrage, convertible arbitrage, equity restructuring, credit and distressed investments, private investments and real estate.
Our investment philosophy focuses on opportunities for long-term value creation through steady, consistent performance with limited use of leverage. We base our investment decisions on detailed, research-based analysis and thorough due diligence. Our investment processes are designed to incorporate risk management into every investment decision, using both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Risk management has been a core element of our business since inception and remains a critical part of our investment process today.
We believe our deeply embedded, team-based culture and high retention rate differentiate us from our competitors. Our partners, whom we also refer to as our executive managing directors, and our managing directors derive virtually all of their income from participation in the profits of our entire business globally. This compensation system helps minimize the potential for asymmetric risk profiles between fund investors and our partners and employees and also fosters a strong culture of internal cooperation and sharing of ideas. Additionally, all of our professional employees have the opportunity to eventually become managing directors and executive managing directors, providing a compelling incentive and retention mechanism.
The long-term interests of our fund investors are central to the way in which we approach our business and invest for growth. Our growth strategy is based on building and expanding our investment platforms and geographic presence. We believe our focus on delivering consistent positive risk-adjusted returns to our fund investors by capitalizing on our competitive strengths and the investment opportunities we see globally will also serve the best interests of our public company shareholders moving forward.
