Who We Are

Hildene is an innovative multi-strategy credit manager specializing in asset-based, structured credit and insurance solutions.

About us

Hildene’s History

Since Hildene’s founding in 2008, our investment process has extended beyond the traditional market valuation approach to identify idiosyncratic market opportunities and seek to maximize returns through event-driven strategies. We are dedicated to delivering results for our clients.

2008

Hildene Capital Management is established by Brett Jefferson and launches its flagship strategy to invest in distressed structured products, including Trust Preferred (TruPS) CDOs.

2011

Hildene launches a multi-strategy vehicle focused on diversified allocations across structured credit.

2017

Hildene assumes collateral management duties of various legacy TruPS CDO deals.

2018

Hildene successfully executes its first TruPS 2.0 CDO transaction and has issued 6 total TruPS 2.0 CDOs to date.

2022

Hildene launches Hildene Re, a Cayman-licensed insurance company offering reinsurance to the global insurance market.

Hildene enters a multi-year strategic relationship with CrossCountry Mortgage, one of the largest retail residential mortgage originators in the U.S., providing Hildene with exclusive access to a scalable volume of non-qualified mortgage loans. Hildene launches residential strategy to offer investors diversified access to asset-based credit, including residential and multifamily assets.

2023

Hildene completes $275mm non-qualified mortgage (“non-QM”) securitization, the first in a series of programmatic issuance of non-QM securitizations.

2024

Hildene Re receives a Financial Strength Rating and Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of B++ (Good) from AM Best.

  • 2008
  • 2011
  • 2017
  • 2018
  • 2022
  • 2023
  • 2024
By the numbers

$16B+

Assets Under Management

2008

Firm Inception

22+ yrs

Average Senior Investment Team Experience

Our Team

Seasoned
Industry Experts

Under the leadership of Co-CIOs Brett Jefferson and Dushyant Mehra, Hildene has sought to deliver innovative investment opportunities and maximize returns for investors through various credit cycles.

We take pride in our ability to uncover value in credit through our differentiated asset, structure, and option-based valuation approach.

Brett Jefferson

Founder, President and Co-Chief Investment Officer

Our nimble investment approach allows us to opportunistically deploy capital to our view of the best risk/reward opportunities in the credit markets at any given time.

Dushyant Mehra

Co-Chief Investment Officer
Our Approach

A Differentiated Approach to Assessing Value

Our options-based investment approach allows us to add value at all stages of the credit cycle. By considering the value of the assets, the embedded options and the structure, we leverage our expertise to identify certain asset and/or structural nuances that may be overlooked or misunderstood by the broader market.

  • Value of the Asset


    The traditional focus is on market price, income generating potential, and underlying fundamentals. Beyond this, Hildene evaluates intrinsic value through measures such as:

    • Credit underwriting
    • Issuer ranking & surveillance
    • Activist litigation
  • Value of the Structure


    Structural value is often overlooked by the market, with investors underestimating its impact over time from factors such as:

    • Excess spread
    • Structural leverage
    • Overcollateralization triggers
    • CLO/CDO manager optionality
  • Value of the Option


    Events that can alter the convexity profile of an asset, such as:

    • Call options
    • Event of default liquidation option
    • Rating agency upgrades
    • Interest rates
Our Philosophy

Hildene’s Core Values

Our core values are the foundation of our investment philosophy and firm culture.

Innovation

Our team is dedicated to providing our clients with compelling investment opportunities and we consistently strive to deliver solutions that are both forward-thinking and innovative. We foster a dynamic environment, encouraging the team to uncover unique investment opportunities for our clients.

Collaboration

Hildene’s "one PnL" approach prioritizes collective success, enhancing efficiency and fostering seamless collaboration among the team. This enables us to remain nimble and drives a culture of trust and open communication.

Investor Alignment

Beyond Hildene employees collectively being one of the largest investors in our funds, we also structure a portion of our incentive fees to remain at risk. This reflects our deep commitment to aligning our interests with those of our clients.

Our Recognition

Awards and Recognitions

Hildene has been consistently recognized as an industry leading alternative asset manager focused on multi-strategy credit investing.

Pensions & Investments

2024

Hildene was ranked #58 on the Largest Hedge Fund Managers List, recognizing the firm’s hedge fund assets under management.

With Intelligence

2024

Hildene was named a finalist for the Hedge Fund Manager US Performance Awards in the Distressed Credit, Event-driven and Multi-strategy categories.

Global Capital

2024

Hildene was shortlisted for the U.S. Securitization Awards for the RMBS Deal of the Year category, recognizing the CROSS 2024-H1 securitization.  

With Intelligence

2024

Hildene is ranked #133 on With Intelligence’s Billion Dollar Club list, recognizing the firm’s hedge fund assets under management.

Institutional Investor

2023

Hildene was shortlisted for the Hedge Fund Industry Awards: Most Innovative Hedge Fund Manager of the Year Finalist

Pension Bridge

2021

Multi-Asset Class Strategy of the Year Hildene Opportunities Fund II

Pension Bridge

2021

Opportunistic Strategy of the Year Hildene Opportunities Fund II

Risk Net

2020

Hedge Fund of the Year Hildene Capital Management, LLC.

The Wall Street Journal

2019

Top 100 Hedge Funds: #12 Hildene Opportunities Fund

The Wall Street Journal

2019

Top 100 Hedge Funds: #26 Hildene Opportunities Fund II

AltCredit

2019

Management Firm of the Year Hildene Capital Management, LLC

AltCredit

2019

Credit Specialist Hildene Opportunities Fund

AltCredit

2019

Asset Backed Hildene Opportunities Fund

Barron's

2018

Top 100 Hedge Funds: #77 Hildene Opportunities Fund

Barron's

2018

Top 100 Hedge Funds: #90 Hildene Opportunities Fund II

Absolute Return

2018

Long Term Performance Non-Equity 10 Years ($1Bn+) Hildene Opportunities Fund

AltCredit

2018

Management Firm of the Year Hildene Capital Management, LLC

AltCredit

2018

Credit Specialist Hildene Opportunities Fund

Barron's

2017

Top 100 Hedge Funds: #81 Hildene Opportunities Fund

Absolute Return

2017

Best Distressed Hildene Opportunities Fund

Absolute Return

2017

Best Credit & High Yield $500M+ Hildene Opportunities Fund II

Absolute Return

2017

Long Term Performance Equity 10 Years ($1Bn+) Hildene Opportunities Fund

Barron's

2016

Top 100 Hedge Funds: #24 Hildene Opportunities Fund

Barron's

2015

Top 100 Hedge Funds: #5 Hildene Opportunities Fund

Absolute Return

2015

Best Long Term Performance All Categories Hildene Opportunities Fund

Absolute Return

2014

Best Credit High Yield Hildene Opportunities Fund II

Barron's

2013

Top 100 Hedge Funds: #6 Hildene Opportunities Fund

Absolute Return

2013

Best Credit & High Yield Hildene Opportunities Fund II