Fund Forms Commercial Mortgage Group

American Capital Strategies Ltd., a buyout and mezzanine fund based in Bethesda, Md., has announced the formation of a Commercial Mortgage Asset Management Group, to be headed by Douglas Cooper as managing director.The move leverages the company's franchise in the asset-backed securities market, where it has "pioneered the issuance of middle-market collateralized loan obligations," said Malon Wilkus, American Capital's president and chief executive officer. Mr. Cooper joins American Capital from CWCapital LLC, where he was managing director in charge of its Washington office, American Capital said. He was previously managing director at Allied Capital Corp., where he was involved in all aspects of the company's commercial mortgage-backed securities investment program. Mr. Cooper will be responsible for developing a team to manage and invest in CMBS, American Capital said. The company can be found online at http://www.americancapital.com.