Sculptor Capital Management Group is a hedge fund firm in New York City with 124 funds and more than $45.47 billion in assets. There are 112 advisors at the firm, whose CEO is Robert Shafir and COO is Wayne Cohen. Hedge funds are the only type of fund -- and, in fact, the only clients -- at the firm.
If Sculptor Capital Management -- or hedge funds in general -- don’t seem like a good fit for you, consider working with a financial advisor.
Sculptor Capital Management Background
Sculptor was founded in 1995 by Daniel Och. It was originally known as Och-Ziff Capital Management Group but changed its name in 2019 (it also went by Oz Capital for a time before executives decided to go for a full-scale rebrand). The name changes were at least partially the result of a bribery scandal described below.
The firm is indirectly owned by Sculptor Capital Management, Inc., a publicly traded company available on the New York Stock Exchange.
Hedge funds are the only clients of the firm; it does not work with any high-net-worth individuals or other institutional investors.
Sculptor Capital Management Investment Philosophy
The following strategies are used at Sculptor:
- Fundamental equities
- Merger arbitrage
- Corporate credit
- Structured credit
- Convertible and derivative arbitrage
- Real estate
- Private investments
- Aviation
The firm invests across asset classes and uses investments from all over the world.
Largest Hedge Funds at Sculptor Capital Management
Sculptor Master Fund
AUM: $14,467,283,543
Minimum: None
Beneficial Owners: 1,001
Sculptor Overseas Intermediate Fund II
AUM: $5,444,555,228
Minimum: None
Beneficial Owners: 376
Sculptor Domestic Partners II
AUM: $3,586,526,570
Minimum: $10 million
Beneficial Owners: 237
Sculptor Overseas Fund II
AUM: $2,965,684,427
Minimum: $10 million
Beneficial Owners: 306
Sculptor SC II
AUM: $2,184,441,929
Minimum: None
Beneficial Owners: 27
Fees at Sculptor Capital Management
Funds with multi-strategy management pay between 1.25% and 2.25% of assets under management annually. For a credit strategy, it’s between 0.40% and 1.75%. Other funds have a management fee of between 0.75% and 1.75%. Collateralized loan obligations have fees generally ranging for 0.30% to 0.50%.
The following fee schedule applies to real estate funds:
| Capital Commitment | Management Fee |
| Up to and including $50 million | 1.50% |
| $50 million to $100 million | 1.25% |
| $100 million to $200 million | 1.00% |
| $200 million and more | 0.75% |
There are also performance-based fees at many funds, generally 20% of the profit earned in a year.
What to Watch Out For
First off, remember that hedge funds are complicated investments not subject to stringent regulations. You must be an accredited investor to invest in any hedge fund.
Secondly, there are a number of disclosures on the record at Sculptor, most notably incidents involving bribery in Africa when the company was known as Och-Ziff Capital Management. It was accused of paying more than $100 million in bribes to officials in several African nations. These incidents spanned the period from 2007 to 2011 and aimed to obtain investments in Och-Ziff funds by African sovereign wealth funds. The firm’s founder, billionaire Daniel Och, was fined $2.2 million and Och-Ziff Capital Management was fined more than $400 million.
Becoming a Client of Sculptor Capital Management
The easiest way to contact Sculptor with questions is to call (212) 790-0000.
Investing Tips
- Whether hedge funds seem like a good choice for you or not, consider working with a financial advisor. Finding the right financial advisor near you doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with financial advisors in your area in just five minutes. If you’re ready to be matched with local advisors, get started now.
- Fees aren’t all you have to worry about with hedge fund investments -- the government may take a piece of your earnings as well, in the form of capital gains tax.
