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☆ Here's the 18-page deck a fintech looking to broaden access to private credit used to raise a $30 million Series B
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Paige Hagy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

It supports borrowers, investors, and underwriters with its software solution. This startup is building a digital solution for the historically analog world of private credit. Private credit is an alternative asset class consisting of loans privately negotiated outside of the public debt markets. Examples of private credit include student loans taken from outside the government, small-business loans, and consumer loans. "We're ready to scale in a market and a time right now that is all in favor and support of private credit," Chu said.

Persons: Nelson Chu, Chu, it's Organizations: underwriters, Goldman Sachs, Management, White Star Capital, Underwriters, Fitch Group, Juniper Locations: Chu

☆ Percent is looking to digitize the analog world of private credit. Here's the 18-page pitch deck it used to raise a $30 million Series B.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Paige Hagy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

This startup is building a digital solution for the historically analog world of private credit. Private credit is an alternative asset class consisting of loans privately negotiated outside of the public debt markets. Examples of private credit include student loans taken from outside the government, small-business loans, and consumer loans. Digitizing an analog marketplaceThe private-credit market traditionally operates in an analog system, with deals being conducted over phone calls and emails and monitored on spreadsheets. "We're ready to scale in a market and a time right now that is all in favor and support of private credit," Chu said.

Persons: Nelson Chu, Chu, it's Organizations: underwriters, Goldman Sachs, Management, White Star Capital, Underwriters, Fitch Group, Juniper Locations: Chu

"With loan terms tougher and tighter, the option for private credit providers is on steroids," said Drew Schardt, head of investment strategy at Hamilton Lane, one of the largest investment firms in private markets. Pietrzak sees "attractive" assets in auto and consumer lending. POISED TO GAIN SHAREInvestors providing private credit comprise 12% of the $6.3 trillion U.S. commercial credit market, according to Fitch Ratings. "The tightening of lending standards creates opportunities for private credit to gain share," said Lyle Margolis, Fitch's head of private credit. While private credit funds have grown swiftly, the risks they pose to the financial system appear limited, the Federal Reserve wrote in a report this month.

☆ This investor holds $74 million in Tesla stock. Here's why he's bullish on the future of Elon Musk's EV company.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Phil Rosen here — today I'm excited to share my conversation with a high-profile Tesla shareholder who recently campaigned for a board seat at Elon Musk's company. Twitter CEO Elon Musk appearing at a 2022 Tesla event. Suzanne Cordeiro/AFP via Getty ImagesRoss Gerber is the cofounder and CEO of Gerber Kawasaki Wealth and Investment Management, and holds 420,000 shares of Tesla stock, or about $74 million based on Tesla's current stock price. RG: You gotta own Tesla in your portfolio with Elon re-focused on Tesla. The strength of the US consumer is at risk as 43 million borrowers are set to resume student loan payments.

☆ The AI boom shakes up stocks, disrupts tech, and could be on the brink of its 'iPhone' moment
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Over the last several months, I've turned to ChatGPT for research, book summaries, and even pasta recipes. It was only in March that Bank of America strategists declared that AI was on the brink of its "iPhone moment," and that it was about to change the world forever. In the stretches he's referring to, stocks appreciated 15% on average, and inflation's also declined, something that would be welcome news for the Fed right now. The giant's quarterly iPhone sales slowed last quarter, and shareholders may have to brace for another snag. Apple's "base business is stagnating and its high-margin apps platform could be disintermediated by ChatGPT plugins," Wood said.

☆ TPG returns to credit party fashionably late
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Jonathan Guilford | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The buyout firm is acquiring Angelo Gordon, an asset manager that specializes in private credit, for $2.7 billion, it said on Monday. The direct-lending portion of its $55 billion credit business emphasizes borrowers with less than $25 million of EBITDA. While it missed the last private credit bonanza, it isn’t saddled with jumbo-size and potentially shaky loans written at the top of the last cycle. As U.S. regional banks struggle, private credit firms see what Blackstone has termed a “golden moment” to muscle in on new turf. Follow @JMAGuilford on TwitterCONTEXT NEWSPrivate equity firm TPG said on May 15 that it had agreed to acquire private credit and real estate-focused investment firm Angelo Gordon for $2.7 billion, including cash and stock.

☆ The manager of an award-winning credit fund that's tripled its benchmark since 2014 told us how he's staying ahead of a recession and credit crunch
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-13 | by ( Marley Jay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The River Canyon Total Return Bond Fund has out-returned 99% of similar credit funds for five years. When Sam Reid says his River Canyon Total Return Bond Fund "has no competition," it sounds like a boast. But what he's actually saying is he's able to invest in a much wider range of assets than managers of other credit funds. He added that his fund "sits in between the hedge fund world and the vanilla mutual fund world." Reid also said he's been working to reduce the duration in his portfolios ahead of a recession.

☆ Private-credit firms see opportunity as banks tighten lending
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Lisa Pauline Mattackal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

May 10 (Reuters) - Private-credit firms are eyeing fresh opportunities from a potential borrowing squeeze in the United States as battered regional banks tighten lending after the turmoil in the sector, according to fund managers and investment strategists. Such lenders see commercial and residential real estate as particularly attractive, given the prominence of regional banks in these sectors. Regional U.S. banks accounted for about 70% of outstanding loans to the commercial real estate (CRE) sector alone, according to Capital Economics. "Signature was one of the biggest providers of real estate lending in the New York area, commercial real estate is very vulnerable ... as a lender you want to be on the other side of that," Handa said. Many private credit funds have plenty of excess funds, or "dry powder" to invest, said Matt Malone, head of investment management at private investment management firm Opto Investments.

Like its peers, private equity firm Apollo was hit by a slump in dealmaking in the quarter that made it challenging to cash out of its private equity holdings for top dollar. Its asset management and retirement businesses, however, helped it cushion the blow. Apollo said its adjusted net income fell to $845 million from $917 million a year earlier. That resulted in adjusted net income per share of $1.42, lower than the average analyst forecast of $1.47, according to Refinitiv data. By contrast, private equity funds of Blackstone, Carlyle and KKR appreciated by 2.8%, 1%, and 2%, respectively.

NEW YORK, May 8 (Reuters) - KKR & Co Inc (KKR.N) said on Monday its after-tax distributable earnings fell 26% year-on-year in the first quarter due to a sharp drop in asset sales from its private equity portfolio and lower transaction fees. KKR and other private equity firms cashed out on fewer investments during the quarter as inflation, higher interest rates, geopolitical tensions and financial market volatility weighed on dealmaking. After-tax distributable earnings, which represents the cash available for paying dividends to shareholders, fell to $719.3 million, down from $974 million posted a year. For its quarterly fund performance, KKR said its private equity portfolio gained 2%, infrastructure funds added 7%, leveraged credit funds grew 4%, while opportunistic real estate funds fell 3%. In comparison, the private equity funds of Blackstone and Carlyle appreciated by 2.8% and 1%, respectively.

☆ Here are the 5 key takeaways from this year's Milken Global conference
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Dakin Campbell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

The pullback by banks is raising the hopes of those in the private credit industry. Some panelists and others who spoke in the hallways of the event suggested that there was a large-scale handoff from private equity to private credit. Many private-equity firms are scrambling to raise private credit funds to take advantage. "I don't think this is the end of private equity, but the environment certainly favors private credit," he said. And that will show up in lower returns for private credit funds, she said.

LONDON, May 4 (Reuters) - U.S. private equity firm Summit Partners is looking to sell a stake in Swiss wealth manager Cinerius Financial Partners amid increasing consolidation in the sector, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters. Summit intends to bring in another private equity fund to help fund Cinerius' growth, particularly through acquisitions, one of the people said. Asset manager BlackRock Inc (BLK.N) provides debt financing for Cinerius' acquisitions through its private credit arm, the person added. BlackRock, Cinerius and Summit Partners did not respond to requests for comment. Belgian private bank Degroof Petercam is reviewing strategic options after drawing interest from rivals, Reuters reported last Friday.

It was the first earnings the Washington, D.C.-based firm reported after former Goldman Sachs Inc (GS.N) executive Harvey Schwartz was named CEO in February. That resulted in after tax distributable earnings per share of 63 cents, which underperformed the average analyst forecast of 69 cents, according to Refinitiv data. Last month, Blackstone Inc (BX.N), the world's largest private-equity firm, reported a 36% drop in first-quarter distributable earnings due to slower asset disposals, primarily in its real estate portfolio. Carlyle said its credit funds appreciated by 3%, while secondaries funds rose 5% and corporate private-equity funds gained 1%. Blackstone had said its corporate private-equity funds had appreciated by 2.8% while liquid credit funds gained 3%.

☆ Blackstone's first-quarter earnings plunge on real estate slowdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, April 20 (Reuters) - Blackstone Inc (BX.N), the biggest manager of assets such as private equity and real estate, said on Thursday its first-quarter distributable earnings fell 36% year-on-year, as a weak property market stopped it from cashing out on some holdings. The slowdown in commercial real estate — triggered by higher interest rates, fears about an economic slowdown and businesses consolidating office space in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic — has also prevented Blackstone from selling assets for top dollar in many of its real estate funds. Distributable earnings, which represent the cash used for shareholder dividends, fell to $1.25 billion in the first quarter from $1.94 billion a year earlier, Blackstone said. Blackstone's fee-related earnings fell 9% to $1.04 billion, as fewer asset sales led to lower performance fees. Blackstone's opportunistic and core real estate funds depreciated by 0.4% and 1.6% over the first quarter, respectively.

☆ Blackstone is in talks to help regional banks with lending
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

NEW YORK, April 20 (Reuters) - Blackstone Inc (BX.N), the biggest manager of private equity and real estate assets, said on Thursday it was discussing partnerships with U.S. regional banks to help them with constraints in areas such as car loans and home improvement financing. "As regional banks experienced outflows of deposits, we are seeing real-time opportunities to partner with them at scale," Blackstone President Jonathan Gray said on the firm's first-quarter earnings call. "The regional banks generally play a very large role in home improvement loans, auto loans and equipment finance. He did not identify the banks Blackstone is speaking to. The firm has shifted its focus in real estate to resilient sectors such as logistics and rental housing.

LONDON, April 19 (Reuters) - If a mega Western recession is coming down the pike in the second half of this year, someone should point it out to the junk bond market. The investment herd seems more convinced than ever that recession is on the way amid tightening bank credit after the March bank stress - even if not all the incoming evidence supports that take. More than a third now see the biggest risk ahead as a bank credit crunch and global recession. And that's with junk spreads more than three times higher than quality corporates. U.S. and European junk bond spreads historicallyBank of America survey on investment grade bonds vs junkCOURAGE AND DECOMPRESSIONThere's little doubt than many investors want to steer well clear, for now at least.

☆ Guest view: Direct lending may be entering new era
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Armen Panossian | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

NEW YORK, April 13 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Challenges in the banking system are expanding the opportunities available to direct lenders. I believe direct lenders’ market share will increase significantly in the future due to the substantial mismatch of supply and demand that has emerged in the market for funding large-scale LBOs. Direct lenders, including funds at Oaktree, are now seeking to fill this gap. Not all direct lenders will be able to take advantage of this opportunity, though. This, in turn, is attracting interest and capital from those direct lenders able to fill the massive gap.

☆ Credit Suisse went the way of Bear Stearns in 2008. But this crisis is different
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

A sign of Credit Suisse pictured behind a sign of UBS in Zurich on March 18, 2023. The Swiss government said Tuesday it had ordered Credit Suisse to temporarily suspend the payment of some bonuses, including share awards, to bank staff. Credit Suisse is the first “global systemically important” bank to be rescued since 2008. Yet despite its importance to the financial system, most analysts are not expecting Credit Suisse’s demise to mark the beginning of another global financial crisis. “It’s possible that a vicious circle develops, in which credit tightens, the real economy deteriorates, and default rates start to rise,” he said.

California banking regulators on March 10 closed Silicon Valley Bank in the largest U.S. bank failure since the 2008 financial crisis. Kurt Gwynne, an attorney for the FDIC as receiver for Silicon Valley Bank, disputed at Tuesday's hearing that regulators had done anything improper. Destroyed SVB (Silicon Valley Bank) logo is seen in this illustration taken March 13, 2023. Glenn said he was prepared to allow SVB Financial to use up to $100 million for investment activity. Silicon Valley Bank was SVB Financial's largest asset, accounting for more than $15.5 billion of SVB Financial's $19.7 billion in total assets.

☆ JPMorgan's Kolanovic warns of possible 'Minsky moment' ahead
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Add up the recent bank failures, geopolitical shocks and uncertainty about central bank policy and you get the potential for a "Minsky moment" in markets, according to JPMorgan Chase. Marko Kolanovic, the firm's chief market strategist and co-head of global research, warned that the current conditions of unsustainable speculation and easy policy are ripe for a market collapse. "The possibility of a Minsky moment in markets and geopolitics has increased," he wrote in a client note Monday. "Even if central bankers successfully contain contagion, credit conditions look set to tighten more rapidly because of pressure from both markets and regulators." "Cracks are beginning to emerge in US credit fundamentals, and Euro credit spreads will likely continue to widen unless we see meaningful policy intervention," Kolanovic wrote.

☆ In praise of American finance’s regulatory mess
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( John Foley | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

NEW YORK, March 9 (Reuters Breakingviews) - There are many issues on which China and the United States are far apart. The People’s Republic this week proposed combining financial regulatory functions into a new super watchdog to govern its financial sector more effectively. China’s proposed new National Financial Regulatory Administration is roughly in this mold. Since 2008, officials in Beijing have criticized the United States’ financial excesses and its “warped conception” of financial discipline. The new National Financial Regulatory Administration would sit directly under the State Council, which serves as China’s cabinet.

☆ Americanas scandal won't affect Brazil banks much even in "extreme scenario" - cenbank
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRASILIA, March 9 (Reuters) - Brazil's central bank stated on Thursday that the potential impact of the accounting scandal involving retailer Americanas SA on banks would be 'insignificant' even in an extreme scenario. Americanas (AMER3.SA) filed for bankruptcy in January after disclosing "accounting inconsistencies" worth 20 billion reais ($3.84 billion), leading banks to increase their provisioning in their most recent earnings release. The central bank noted that the provisions stem from "a specific event related to a large company" and have already absorbed most of the materialization of the risk. "The central bank estimated the remaining potential impact, plus a contagion scenario over the entire production and supply chain that depends on the company in a relevant way," it said. "In this extreme scenario, the impact on the consolidated financial system is insignificant and there would be no capital default in any financial institution," it added.

☆ Ken Griffin just keeps winning
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

No, 4.1 billion represents the number of dollars Ken Griffin made from his hedge fund, Citadel, in 2022 alone. Griffin made more money in one hour than the average American makes in their lifetime! Oh, and one more thing: That's not even all the money Griffin earned in 2022! I've said before you could make the case for Griffin being the most powerful person on Wall Street. And check out this fascinating profile from Insider's Dakin Campbell on Ken Griffin.

☆ Goldman doubles down on the wealthy, as it should
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Lauren Silva Laughlin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Instead, he indicated that the wealth business would be a “key driver for growth." One key pillar of that plan is Goldman’s alternative assets business, which includes running buyout, private credit and real-estate investing funds. For example, Goldman plans to take $2 billion in management and other fees from the alternative business next year. Last year, of the $72 billion Goldman raised for alternative, a third of that came from its wealth business. Goldman has dabbled in this now-dubbed “One Goldman” concept before, and gave it significant airtime on Tuesday.

☆ Adani in talks for $400 mln debt against Australian coal port assets - ET
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 27 (Reuters) - India's Adani Group is in talks with global credit funds to raise up to $400 million in debt against a key Australian coal port assets that make up a large portion of its exports of the fossil fuel from Carmichael mine, the Economic Times reported. Adani Group and Farallon Capital did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comments. Reuters recently reported Australia's corporate regulator said it would review a short-seller report that had flagged a wide range of concerns about the Adani Group. In Australia, the conglomerate operates the Carmichael coal mine and a related rail line, the North Queensland Export Terminal, which is a major port for Queensland coal exports, as well as a solar farm. Reporting by Sneha Bhowmik in Bengaluru; Editing by Eileen Soreng and Rashmi AichOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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