Steve Kaplan

Co-Founder; Oaktree Capital Management, Co-Owner; DC United

Steven Kaplan is co-founder of Oaktree Capital Management, co-owner of Major League Soccer's DC United, co-owner of Wales-based football club Swansea City, and former minority owner of the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies.

Oaktree Capital Management is a global asset management firm specializing in alternative investment strategies. It is the largest distressed securities investor in the world, and one of the largest credit investors in the world. Mr. Kaplan co-founded Oaktree in 1995, having previously served as a managing director of TCW and portfolio manager in the TCW Special Credits Group, and served as Principal until his retirement in 2017.

Prior to joining TCW in 1993, Mr. Kaplan was a Partner with the law firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher and responsible for that firm’s East Coast bankruptcy and workout practice. During his career as an attorney, Mr. Kaplan specialized in transactions involving the purchase and sale of companies undergoing financial restructurings.

He presently serves on the boards of Regal Entertainment Group, AdvancePierre Foods and Townsquare Media, Inc.  Mr. Kaplan previously served on the boards of Alliance HealthCare Services, Inc.; Genco Shipping and Trading Ltd. and General Maritime Corporation.  In addition, he currently serves on the boards of several private companies and nonprofit organizations, including the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center Foundation and the New York University School of Law Foundation.

In 2012, Mr. Kaplan purchased a minority stake in the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies as part of a group led by Robert Pera along with Daniel E. Straus as a minority investor.

Mr. Kaplan also became co-owner of Premier League club Swansea City alongside Jason Levien in July 2016.

Mr. Kaplan graduated with a B.S. degree in political science summa cum laude from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and a J.D. from the New York University School of Law.

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