GrizzlyRock Capital Expands Management Team With Financial Industry Veterans Chris Ricciardi And Doug Laux

CHICAGO, Jan. 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- GrizzlyRock Capital, an alternative asset management firm seeking to deliver exemplary risk-adjusted returns to investors via opportunities across credit and equity markets, has strengthened its management team by appointing Chris Ricciardi, CAIA as Managing Partner and Head of Business Development and Doug Laux, CPA as Chief Financial Officer.

"As we begin our third year of operations, Doug and Chris' expertise in institutional-quality asset management firms and building robust, client focused businesses will be invaluable to our clients," said Kyle Mowery, GrizzlyRock Managing Partner and Portfolio Manager. "Since inception, we have been building both a world-class alternative asset management firm and client-focused, differentiated investment products. Today's announcement is another step towards fulfilling our mission."

GrizzlyRock utilizes rigorous fundamental research and due diligence to invest in mispriced securities. The team invests both long and short in corporate securities in the equity and credit markets which it feels are substantially mispriced. The result is a portfolio composed of high- conviction value-and event-driven equity investments and high-yield credit securities.

"GrizzlyRock believes investment management is, at its core, all about risk management," said Mr. Ricciardi. "Doug and I share this investor-centric mindset, and we look forward to continuing GrizzlyRock's commitment to pursuing attractive risk-adjusted returns in high- yield corporate credit and equity securities."

Mr. Ricciardi has spent more than eight years working in the alternative investment space, and joins GrizzlyRock after serving as Director of Strategic Relationships for Altegris Investments. During his time at Altegris, he focused on distributing private and public investment solutions to professional investors, wealth managers, banks and financial services platforms. Earlier in his career, Mr. Ricciardi co-founded Herron Capital Management, a registered commodity trading advisor and introducing broker. 

Mr. Laux brings to GrizzlyRock extensive knowledge of private and public companies, balance sheet and operational restructuring, initial public offerings, bankruptcy situations and mergers and acquisitions. He spent 20 years at Ernst & Young in Chicago, where he was a partner for nine years. Mr. Laux has also served as CFO of a variety of businesses, including ANC Rental, the holding company for Alamo and National Car Rental.

Mr. Ricciardi and Mr. Laux will work closely with Mr. Mowery, who founded GrizzlyRock in 2012, and Saidal Mohmand, Vice President of Investment Research. Mr. Mowery began his career as an analyst at fund of hedge funds PAAMCO, and later made investments in media and telecommunications companies at McDonnell Asset Management, now T.H. Lee Senior Credit Strategies. Mr. Mowery later joined the middle-market leveraged finance team at BMO Capital Markets, where he evaluated and managed funding for private companies across industries such as general industrials, business services, consumer goods and healthcare.

Mr. Mohmand began his career on the research team at Greenleaf Trust in Michigan, where he covered the banking, railroad and technical services industries. Before joining GrizzlyRock, he was part of Fifth Third Bank's leveraged finance team in Chicago, where he focused on credit research and fundamental analysis.

For more information about GrizzlyRock Capital, please visit www.grizzlyrockcapital.com. For media inquiries, please contact Kris Kagel at 973-850-7312 or [email protected].

About GrizzlyRock Capital
GrizzlyRock Capital is an alternative asset management firm seeking to deliver exemplary risk-managed returns to investors via opportunities across credit and equity markets. The firm takes a value-investing approach to security selection, relying on rigorous fundamental analysis to identify dramatically mispriced corporate securities from the entire capital spectrum.

The firm acts as a committed partner to investors, making investments with meticulous attention to risk management and downside protection. Based in Chicago and established in 2012, GrizzlyRock believes that every mispriced security must meet stringent criteria to warrant an investment. Therefore, GrizzlyRock's portfolio is a best-ideas investment compilation.

GrizzlyRock's team consists of highly skilled and experienced professionals who are well-versed in a variety of asset classes and industries. For more information, please visit www.grizzlyrockcapital.com.

SOURCE GrizzlyRock Capital