ZimCal Asset Management

ZimCal Asset Management is an alternative investment firm focused on niche, illiquid and complex credit investment opportunities mostly acquired in the secondary market.

ZimCal is investment-agnostic with respect to industry, collateral and structure. The firm primarily targets private, credit investments of $5 million to $15 million. ZimCal partners with healthy, stressed or distressed borrowers or issuers, and provides customized solutions that meet their unique needs and circumstances.


What We Do

ZimCal seeks opportunities in unconventional areas that are overlooked by other investors. These opportunities typically require extensive diligence, document review and fundamental credit analysis and therefore are unappealing to competitors looking to quickly scale or seeking a tidy narrative.

ZimCal is opportunistic and can move quickly in the event of market dislocation in an asset class, borrower or collateral type, which often leads to strong risk-adjusted returns.


Partnering with Banks

The founder of ZimCal has partnered with over 120 banks through investments on both sides of the balance sheet. ZimCal has developed a deep network in the industry and fully understands the banking regulatory environment.

ZimCal's primary focus in the industry is acquiring moderately to severely distressed debt from lenders looking to reduce risk. ZimCal is fair in pricing, efficient in its analysis and quick to respond.

ZimCal's secondary focus is acquiring or providing bank capital, primarily through investments in Trust Preferred Securities, subordinated debt and preferred equity


Partnering with Borrowers

The founder of ZimCal has lent to over 150 non-bank borrowers in a variety of industries including: business services, transportation, commercial real estate and manufacturing.

Whether the investment is through a loan acquisition in the secondary market or a new origination, ZimCal gives its borrowers the opportunity to thrive. ZimCal takes the time to understand each borrower's unique circumstances and provides flexible, bespoke solutions. The goal is to align interests, with borrowers or other creditors, and mutually succeed.


Investment Philosophy

ZimCal was founded with the ethos of rigorous analysis, intellectual humility and fairness - with investors, employees and counterparties. Due to the illiquid nature of some of its investments, underwriting is extensive and ZimCal prices and structures defensively, particularly during times of exuberance. The firm seeks value when it can be found and is willing to walk away when it cannot.


Giving Back

ZimCal believes in giving back to the community, materially and immediately, through either time or financial resources. ZimCal believes that by supporting a culture of giving back, employee engagement increases and decisions become more long-term focused - positively impacting investment performance.


About

ZimCal was founded in 2015 by Stephen Hodges after working for over 12 years in banking and credit investing. Mr. Hodges has invested in: senior debt; second lien debt; subordinated debt; preferred equity; common equity; structured credit and liquidations; and restructurings. His investment bias is towards stressed/distressed credit and special situations.

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