Why Ballast Rock Capital

Ballast Rock Capital was designed by industry veterans with deep experience in capital markets, M&A, risk management and securities regulations. Our team seeks to build your trust first and foremost, and truly understands that today’s investment banking professionals demand expertise and efficiency with the handling of their business. 

Our
Philosophy

Trust is earned through transparency, accountability, and consistent execution. We believe compliance should support professional judgment, not replace it

Trust & Integrity in Practice

Our culture prioritizes doing what is right — for our professionals, counterparties, and regulators — even in complex or time‑sensitive transactions.

Deep FINRA Experience

Our leadership brings extensive experience working directly with FINRA and the SEC across M&A, private placements, PIPEs, and registered offerings.

Boutique Service. Institutional Standards.

We combine personalized attention with robust systems, controls, and documentation standards expected of leading broker‑dealers.

Services

White-Glove Compliance

Senior‑Led Transaction Oversight

  • Dedicated Series 24 principals
  • Coast‑to‑coast coverage
  • Early and ongoing deal engagement
  • Practical, transaction‑aware regulatory guidance

Our principals are involved throughout the transaction lifecycle — from pre‑deal structuring through closing and post‑transaction supervision.

Investment Banking & Private Capital

Supporting Sophisticated Advisory Transactions

We support a broad range of investment banking and capital‑raising activities, including:

  • Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Private Placements (Reg D 506(b) and 506(c))
  • PIPE Transactions
  • Registered Direct Offerings

Our approach integrates regulatory oversight with deal execution insight, enhancing credibility with investors, issuers, and regulators.

High-Touch Operational Support

Real Support. Real People.

Our operations team provides hands‑on support across onboarding, transaction processing, supervision, and ongoing operational needs — reducing friction and allowing professionals to focus on execution.

Senior Leadership. Institutional Standards.

We combine dedicated Series 24 oversight with practical, transaction-aware guidance designed for sophisticated deal professionals. Our involvement begins early and continues through execution and supervision — ensuring regulatory alignment without slowing momentum.

The result is disciplined infrastructure that supports confident capital formation.

Dennis Azary

CO-CCO (Chief Compliance Officer) and FinOp

Based in the San Francisco bay area, Dennis Azary is Co- Chief Compliance Officer and Financial Operations Principal (FINOP) of Ballast Rock Capital, LLC. Specializing in risk management, securities rules & regulations, and execution of compliant transactions involving mergers & acquisitions and private placements, Dennis is responsible for oversight of the firm’s regulated activities.

Carrie Schneidman​

CO-CCO (Chief Compliance Officer)

A senior financial services professional with over 20 years of experience supporting investment banking transactions, including M&A, private placements, capital raises, pre-IPO offerings, and secondary transactions. She has extensive expertise supervising Regulation D offerings, conducting transaction-level due diligence, and guiding boutique investment banking firms through SEC and FINRA regulatory requirements.

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