Absolute Return Podcast

On today’s show we welcome special guest, Catalyst Funds CIO David Miller. Catalyst offers unique investment products to meet the needs of discerning financial advisors and their clients. On the show, we discuss: How they find best of breed hedge fund managers Why portable alpha makes sense for investors What he views as the best opportunity in the equity market Why he continues to be bullish on gold And more!

On today’s show we welcome special guest, Barings BDC’s President Matt Freund. Barings BDC primarily makes debt investments in core middle market companies. On the show, we discuss: The recent choppiness and negative sentiment in the private credit market The effect of declining base rates on yields and credit conditions The current deployment opportunity set for private credit funds PIK loans and portfolio construction And more!

Matt Bloomfield, President of Palmer Square Capital BDC, shares insights on the world of syndicated loans and private credit. He explains the firm's unique focus on corporate debt securities and contrasts it with typical BDCs. Bloomfield discusses the complexities of loan restructurings, highlighting case studies like First Brands and LifeScan's recovery. He also addresses the impact of recent market sentiments and M&A activity on credit strategies, providing a nuanced view of credit market dynamics and their potential outlook.

In this engaging conversation, Frank Karl, President of Kayne Anderson BDC, shares his expertise in middle-market direct lending. He discusses the recent volatility in BDC prices, attributing it to rate cuts and credit market concerns. Frank explains the appeal of core middle-market lending, emphasizing its lower leverage and attractive documentation. He also highlights KBDC's strategic shift back to private loans, the nuances of payment-in-kind loans, and why private credit offers valuable downside protection for investors.

On today’s show we welcome special guest, Eva Yazhari, the General Partner of Beyond Capital Ventures, a women-led impact venture capital firm. On the show, we discuss: The compelling opportunity for early stage investing in Africa and India How venture capital differs in emerging markets What she looks for when investing in a startup And more

On today’s show, we welcome special guests, Brandon Sun, Cohen’s Managing Director and Head of SPAC Investment Banking, and Christian Lopez, Cohen’s Managing Director and Head of Blockchain and Digital Assets. Cohen is a full-service boutique investment bank focused on advising leading and emerging companies across sectors to address their strategic and financial opportunities. On the show, we discuss: Dynamics driving the momentum in the IPO market Trends in digital asset capital formation and crypto treasury companies The evolution of digital assets within the capital markets What investors can expect for the back half of the year And more

On today’s show we welcome special guests, ReserveOne’s CEO Jaime Leverton and President Sebastian Bea. ReserveOne is a newly formed, first-of-its-kind digital asset management firm inspired by the proposed U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile. On the show, we discuss: Their “bitcoin moment” and what initially got them interested in crypto ReserveOne’s digital asset investment strategy How ReserveOne differentiates itself from other crypto treasury companies Reasons why an investor would choose a crypto treasury company over an ETF or holding crypto directly And more!

On today’s show we welcome special guests, Upexi’s Chief Strategy Officer, Brian Rudick and Meteora Capital’s Chief Investment Officer, Vik Mittal. Brian and Vik have been involved in the creation of crypto treasury companies and are experts in the space. Upexi is a Solana Treasury Company. On the show, we discuss: What is a crypto treasury company and how do they create value long term? Why should investors buy a crypto treasury company instead of buying the crypto themselves or through an ETF? How are SPACs and RTOs involved in this dynamic? How has the regulatory environment changed in the U.S. around digital assets? And more!

On today’s show we welcome special guest, CIO of Starkiller Capital, Leigh Drogen. Starkiller Capital is an institutional investment firm applying quantitative data-driven strategies to blockchain based digital assets. On the show we discuss: Core tenets of their approach to crypto investing Trend following and yield farming in crypto Their approach to risk management  His top emerging trends in the digital asset space to have on your radar And more!

On today’s show we welcome special guest, Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund's President Michael Occi. Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund (MSDL) seeks to achieve attractive risk-adjusted returns by investing primarily in directly originated senior secured loans issued by U.S. middle market companies. On the show, we discuss: Why investors should consider an allocation to private credit What explains the significant market share growth of private credit in financing buyouts MSDL’s defensive approach to lending, with a focus on first lien loans His thoughts on the current market environment for private credit loans And more