The CLO Investor Podcast

Shiloh Bates talks to the Bank of Montreal's Head of CLO Trading, Bilal Nasir. In this episode, Bilal uses the term "risk profiles" to describe the different characteristics of various CLO investment opportunities. If you've ever wondered about the ins and outs of CLO trading, this is the episode for you.

Lauren Basmadjian, Carlyle's Global Head of Liquid Credit, joins The CLO Investor podcast to discuss rate cuts, her outlook for CLO spreads, loan default and recoveries, and how she thinks about investing in CLOs managed by other managers. 

Shiloh Bates talks to Stephen Anderberg, the sector lead for U.S. CLOs at Standard and Poor's Global Ratings, about how CLOs are rated, trends in upgrades and downgrades and defaults. They also discuss how the September 18, 2024, interest rate cut may move the market. And they talk about how CLO ratings have performed relative to the more well-known corporate rating system. For a full transcript, or to learn more about Flat Rock Global, please visit flatrockglobal.com.

Shiloh Bates talks to Ted Goldthorpe, Head of Credit at BC Partners, about the lessons learned in his very impressive financial career. While most asset managers grow their business by launching new funds, Ted is also active in acquiring other asset managers. In this episode, Shiloh and Ted discuss the evolving landscape of private credit and business development companies. 

Shiloh Bates speaks with John Timperio, the Co-Head of Dechert’s Global Finance practice, about CLO regulation in this episode of The CLO Investor podcast.

Shiloh Bates talks to Allan Schmitt, Head CLO banker at Wells Fargo, about rated feeders, a new flavor of CLO (collateralized loan obligation) that is growing in popularity.

In this episode of The CLO Investor Podcast, Shiloh Bates talks to Drew Sweeney, Broadly Syndicated CLO Portfolio Manager at TCW. The episode reviews complexities of loan documentation, the role of private equity firms, and the importance of thorough analysis and strategic management in the loan market.

Shiloh Bates welcomes John Kerschner, Head of U.S. Securitized Products and a Portfolio Manager for JAAA at Janus Henderson, to the podcast. John explains the relative attractiveness of CLO AAAs versus other asset classes; how his team chooses CLO AAAs; and if he thinks the market should expect continued CLO tightening. 

In this episode of the CLO Investor podcast, host Shiloh Bates interviews Patrick Wolfe, Senior Portfolio Manager in the Global Credit Platform and Head of U.S. Middle Market CLOs at BlackRock. They discuss the current state of the middle market loans and the risks for CLO investors in today's economy. Patrick explains the differences between middle market loans and broadly syndicated loans, highlighting the need for origination and underwriting in the middle market. He also describes the competition for middle market loans and the importance of reputation and industry specialization in transactions. Other topics include the impact of higher interest rates on borrowers; the potential for increased M&A activity in the middle market; and the importance of valuations and need for standardization in the industry.

Shiloh Bates talks to Nomura Securities CLO Researcher Paul Nikodem in the sixth episode of The CLO Investor podcast. They discuss the process of evaluating CLO managers and also tackle the topic of declining CLO financing costs.