Private Debt Investor Podcast

The 'flashing red lights' that were ignored

In this episode, we examine some headline-grabbing company failures such as First Brands, Tricolor and Carriox – and ponder what lessons and insights there might be for the private debt asset class. While private debt exposure may have been relatively limited in these instances, can the asset class be confident that it has its own house in order? Jiri Krol of the Alternative Investment Management Association and Alternative Credit Council acknowledges there is stress in the system – but believes that stress may have already peaked and that, in general, private debt has once again demonstrated its resilience in tough times. But Matthias Kirchgaessner of Plexus Research is not convinced that private debt is immune from concerns around troubled companies, with fierce competition among lenders meaning that some due diligence shortcuts may have been taken.

The diversification dilemma: Why ABF offers a solution to LPs

This episode is sponsored by Rithm Capital Asset-based finance is rapidly evolving within the world of private credit, offering investors a differentiated source of risk-adjusted returns. With the market valued at over $20 trillion, it underscores the vast scale and growing importance of this segment as investors seek alternative opportunities amid shifting economic conditions. In this episode, we speak to Michael Nierenberg, CEO of Rithm Capital, to discuss why asset-based finance is becoming more popular with investors. We analyse the opportunities ABF brings, while also exploring how managers are differentiating themselves in a competitive market.

Private debt’s show of strength

This episode is sponsored by Nuveen The private debt industry continues to go from strength to strength, with several key segments of the market gaining further traction with institutional investors as they seek out strong returns in an uncertain macroeconomic environment. Both geography and strategy will be crucial to attract LPs in the coming months and years - Europe and the US each have significant market factors at play that will determine the trajectory and rate of private credit growth across both markets, while the infrastructure-focused investment-grade space is seeing strong dealflow despite volatility. In this episode, we speak to Randy Schwimmer, vice chairman and chief investment strategist at Churchill Asset Management; Laura Parrott, a senior managing director and head of the private fixed income group at Nuveen; and Michael Massarano, a partner and deputy CIO of Arcmont Asset Management, to find out more about the dynamics driving private debt activity across these three key segments.

Arrow Global on seeing beyond the cycle

This episode is sponsored by Arrow Global To be a successful player in the distressed lending market, one needs to understand the importance of timing. The current macroeconomic environment offers plenty of opportunities for distressed lenders looking to assist businesses struggling with market dislocation, bank retrenchment and policy uncertainty. However, lenders that look to take a more opportunistic approach to the strategy may not be able to deliver the kinds of returns sought by increasingly sophisticated investors. In this episode, we speak with Zach Lewy, founder, CEO, and chief investment officer of Arrow Global, to discuss the importance of taking a long-term view on potential targets and the opportunities and risks associated with the strategy. We also explore why default rates are no longer truly indicative of distress in the market and why lenders who have pan-European footprints are particularly well-placed to benefit from market dislocation.

Oaktree on its $16bn opportunistic debt fund

Oaktree Capital Management’s announcement in early February that its Opportunities Fund XII had raised $16 billion – inclusive of co-investments and affiliated investment vehicles – represented the largest fundraise for an opportunistic/distressed debt fund to date. Brook Hinchman and Jared Parker – both managing directors and co-heads of North America for Oaktree’s Global Opportunities strategy, joined The Private Debt Investor Podcast to discuss the strategy and how a mixture of factors including tariffs, liability management exercises and the path forward for interest rates are influencing decision making as the fund’s investment phase is in full swing.