Highland Capital Management

Founded in 1993 by James Dondero and Mark Okada, Highland Capital Management is a Dallas-based alternative investment firm. The firm gained early prominence by developing the first software to electronically track loan portfolios, which it sold to JPMorgan Chase in 2003. Over the decades, it expanded into the mutual fund space and the European market through various acquisitions, including the bank loan business of Columbia Management Advisors and ING Capital Management.

The firm is known for its expertise in credit markets, particularly leveraged loans, high-yield bonds, and structured products like collateralized loan obligations (CLOs). Highland has been frequently involved in high-profile bankruptcies and debt reorganizations, such as those of Bridge Information Systems and Delphi Corporation. In October 2019, the firm filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

In addition to its investment activities, Highland is a notable philanthropic entity in Dallas, serving as a founding benefactor of the George W. Bush Presidential Center. The firm operates globally with additional offices in New York City, São Paulo, Buenos Aires, Seoul, and Singapore.