About
D.E. Shaw & Co. is a global investment and technology firm founded in 1988 by David E. Shaw and headquartered in New York. Managing approximately $60 billion, the firm was once described by Fortune as the most intriguing force on Wall Street. While pioneering quantitative trading, D.E. Shaw also employs significant discretionary strategies including activist investing. The firm was ranked the 10th-largest hedge fund globally by 2020. David Shaw, a former Columbia computer science professor, made his fortune exploiting market inefficiencies using high-speed networks. The firm employs over 2,500 people globally including mathematicians, physicists, and computer scientists, maintaining offices across North America, Europe, and Asia.
Investment Focus
D.E. Shaw combines quantitative and discretionary strategies using proprietary algorithms to exploit market inefficiencies. Discretionary strategies include activist and event-driven investments across industries. The activist approach focuses on board representation and strategic changes. The firm maintains long holding periods and works constructively with management to enhance value through operational improvements and strategic initiatives.