Clayton Hires More Due Diligence Professionals

Clayton Holdings LLC is expanding its Atlanta office and its management team to keep up with demand for due diligence services by issuers of private-label securities.

The Shelton, Conn.-based firm said it promoted Dan Pinero to be director of securitization operations and Joe Ozment to be director of client securitization services. Both executives report to Scott Mowry, senior vice president and head of transaction management.

Meanwhile, staffing at its Atlanta site has doubled to 80 due diligence professionals and the firm has leased an additional 18,000 square feet of office space. Clayton also has a facility in Tampa with 220 employees.

“The gradual re-emergence of the private-label market has been a long, deliberate process and those re-entering the market are operating in a rapidly evolving regulatory and business environment,” Mowry said.

“As a result, issuers are now routinely requesting more extensive reviews of loan pools and of individual files,” he said. “As the market leader in due diligence, Clayton is investing in personnel, training, technology and facilities to be ready for new regulations—like QM and QRM—and the eventual return of the private RMBS market.”