Our history

Established in 1995 by Jon Bauer, Janice Stanton and Gil Tenzer, Contrarian is an opportunistic credit and special situation investment platform with one of the most stable portfolio management teams in the industry. Jon and Janice have been managing portfolios of opportunistic credit and special situation securities together since 1986 (joined by Gil in 1993). Portfolio Manager Xiao Song joined Contrarian in 2003 and has managed the Emerging Markets strategy since inception in 2006. This continuity of senior management provides Contrarian with a competitive edge in sourcing and analyzing investment opportunities, as well as navigating the portfolio through multiple business cycles.

Today, the multi-billion dollar firm manages predominately institutional client assets, employing professionals across offices in Greenwich, Connecticut (global headquarters), London and Hong Kong. While the firm has broadened the team and capabilities over time, Contrarian has consistently managed clients’ portfolios with a singular focus on opportunistic credit and special situation investing. With more than 30 years of investing experience, the Contrarian team has particular expertise investing in complex capital structures, private securities and off-the-run claims, and maintains a keen focus on capital preservation.