Julian James
Director, Credit Research
Summary
Julian James, Director, is a member of BlackRock's North America Credit Research effort for BlackRock's Global Fixed Income platform
Julian is responsible for coverage of the Investment Grade Power & Utilities sector as well as the High Yield Power, Chemicals and Packaging sectors. Julian joined BlackRock as an Analyst in 2011. Prior to joining BlackRock, Julian spent one year at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey as an Analyst in the Energy Practice Group of the Corporate and Investment Bank. In this role, he focused on acquisition financing, credit underwriting and loan portfolio management.
Julian serves on the board of directors for Seeding Labs and the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone's small business lending committee (Business Resource and Investment Service Center) and was a member of the Echoing Green Direct Impact Summer 2017 cohort
Specialties: Industry Analysis, Credit Analysis, Underwriting, Financial Modeling, Relative Value, Credit Documentation,
Experience
Director, Credit Research Analyst
BlackRock, Inc. / New York
Global Fixed Income | Investment Grade & High Yield Credit Research
Sectors: Power & Utilities, Chemicals, Packaging, Midstream
- Produced thoughtful, differentiated, high conviction, synthesized and concise investment ideas within the High Yield & Investment Grade Energy, Power Generation, Chemicals and Packaging industries
- Evaluated the relative value of relevant companies’ corporate bonds and bank loans within the context of our existing portfolio positions using fundamental credit analysis and “comparables sheets” in addition to proprietary applications
- Recommended investment ideas across Relative Value, Event-Driven, Opportunistic, Long-Only strategies
- Prepared written credit memorandum evaluating various High Yield Power & Project finance bank loan financings in both the primary and secondary market
- Developed industry expertise that was utilized by not only the $765BN Global Fundamental Fixed Income platform but also by the firm’s Infrastructure Debt, Renewable Power Private Equity and ESG/Climate Solutions investment teams
- Led a project to develop a proprietary tool to screen individual companies and sectors for anomalies in the relationships between credit, equities and volatility indicators to generate ideas and increase efficiency
Leadership Development
- I am one of 10% of Directors across the Global Investment businesses selected to participate in the 18-month "Investments Sponsorship Program". Matched with the Head of Americas Fixed Income to enhance my visibility, experience and networks at the firm and to connect my ambitions to growth opportunities at the firm. Selection was based on “strong performance and future potential”.
Loan Portfolio Management Analyst
SunTrust Robinson Humphrey / Atlanta, Ga
Corporate & Investment Bank | Energy Practice Group
Sectors: Electric & Gas Utilities, Power Generation, Gas Pipelines and Storage
- Completed a structured, credit training program that included accounting, modeling, corporate finance, underwriting, and financial analysis training
- Played a key role in the credit underwriting for transactions and monitoring the risk/return profile of an $9.0BN loan portfolio of SunTrust Robinson Humphrey (STRH) credit commitments to its corporate client base
- Conducted the credit analysis process for STRH clients, conducting a thorough analysis of the credit quality of both the client and the respective industry to ensure appropriate risk and return for STRH’s capital investment
- Prepared credit memoranda and other written materials, using publicly available information as well as private information derived from due diligence calls with the client’s management team
Education
The University of Georgia
Bachelors of Arts: Political Science
Skills
