Securitization of Rail Cars and Art Assets

The chapter explores the investment potential of rail cars and art assets for securitization by hedge funds, highlighting the benefits of recurring lease payments from credit-worthy counterparties. It also discusses concerns about predatory practices in the art world, advising caution for individual investors and emphasizing the importance of mature markets and proper legal frameworks. The conversation delves into the evolution of negotiation styles in finance, emphasizing collaboration over a zero-sum approach, and shares personal anecdotes about lessons learned from early career mistakes.

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In this episode, CJ interviews Alex Song, the VP of Finance and Capital Markets at Ramp who has also had a fascinating career in the world of investment. He explains how Ramp’s business model impacts liquidity, the unique balance sheet considerations of a payments company, and how credit card issuers approach risk management. He talks about the finance function as a trade-off between risk and return, and its job in brokering risk. He discusses how being in the payments flow lends itself to value creation and the value of owning the customer relationship. From seismic shipping vessels to rough diamonds, rail cars, and Colombian litigation finance claims, Alex also shares a number of fascinating stories about investments he has been involved in.

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@cjgustafson222 (CJ)

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TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Preview and Intro

(02:04) Sponsor - Maxio | Planful

(04:09) How Ramp’s Business Model Impacts Liquidity

(07:17) Risk Management as a Credit Card Issuer

(09:47) What Duration Mismatch is

(14:00) The Finance Function as a Trade-off Between Risk and Return

(18:18) The Value of Owning the Customer Relationship

(22:16) Sponsor - Leapfin | Mercury | Netsuite

(25:28) The Role of a Finance Person to Be Risk-off