In The Know

In this episode, Barry has a great discussion with his Regions Bank colleague, Alan McKnight, on the state of financial markets. Alan is Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer for Regions Asset Management, and is responsible for overall investment strategy, portfolio and risk management, portfolio construction, and oversight for approximately $70BN in assets under management and $150BN in assets under advisement at Regions. Alan also serves as the chief spokesperson for Regions on portfolio strategy, asset allocation and overall markets, speaking frequently on outlets such as CNBC and Bloomberg and writing for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNN Money and others.  Alan and Barry have collaborated on several internal market updates and now they bring Alan’s unique insights to you.

In this episode Barry talks with Ian Fredericks, President of Hilco Consumer Retail, about the current conditions in the retail industry, as well as experience gained from recent liquidations. Ian is a member of SFNet’s Executive Committee and has extensive experience working with valuation and liquidation of inventory. Ian joined Hilco in 2011 after a successful career as a stressed and distressed Mergers and Acquisitions and Corporate Restructuring attorney. 

Statements and opinions of individual speakers on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of their employer(s) or the Secured Finance Network (SFNet). Information provided should not be relied on or interpreted as accounting, financial planning, investment, legal or tax advice, and references to websites or companies should not be construed as endorsements or recommendations. You should consult an appropriate professional concerning your specific situation and irs.gov for current tax rules.

In this episode of SFNet presents In the Know, host Barry Bobrow interviews Lee Shaiman, Executive Director of the Loan Syndications and Trading Association. LSTA is the primary trade association for the leveraged loan market and oversees a wide range of market-related activities, including advocacy and education. The discussion covers the role and primary activities of LSTA and Lee’s perspectives on the health of the market, as well as the outlook for the future direction of the leveraged loan asset class given market and regulatory pressures.

Dan North, Senior Economist for Allianz Trade North America, joins host Barry Bobrow for this informative discussion on a wide range of topics. He shares his views on Fed Policy and the potential for a recession, as well as offering commentary on the health of the American consumer and thoughts on the economic impact of current U.S. political gridlock.

Back by popular demand, podcast host Barry Bobrow and his fellow tennis wonk, Valerie Mason, return for the second edition of their U.S. Open Tennis Championship Extravaganza Podcast. The tournament starts August 28, 2023, and they have a special guest on this episode - but you’ll have to listen to find out who it is. The discussion pulls no punches and is complete with tips for getting the most out of your trip to Flushing Meadows. You won’t want to miss it!

In this episode, host Barry Bobrow is joined by his friends Maria Dikeos and CJ Doherty of Refinitiv for a timely and detailed discussion of leveraged debt markets for the first half of 2023. As Maria and CJ point out, deal flow has been negatively impacted by the slowing economy and higher interest rates. Broadly syndicated volume is down significantly in 2023 vs 2022. However, the market is still active and is showing recent signs of strength on numerous transactions. They also discuss the dramatic expansion of direct lending. The conversation finishes up with a detailed overview of the asset-based lending market in the first half of the year. This episode makes extensive use of data slides. To download the slide deck, click here.

In this episode, Jennifer Palmer engages in a detailed discussion with Quinn Emanuel partner Katie Lemire, who previously oversaw enforcement and consumer protection at the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS).  Katie breaks down for listeners the role of the NYDFS and provides a rare firsthand account into its regulation of cryptocurrency.  Katie then summarizes the recent NYDFS enforcement action against Robinhood.  Finally, Katie provides two very basic reminders that can protect listeners from cybersecurity issues.

For this episode, host Barry Bobrow is in discussion with Trevor Williams on the sidelines of the SFNet 78th Annual Convention, November 2022 in Austin, Texas. Trevor is the former chief economist of Lloyds and currently has his own consultancy advising corporations and financial institutions on global economic issues. They cover the world in this conversation discussion, from China to Europe to the United States. Trevor’s unique perspective is both informative and optimistic – you won’t want to miss it.

In this episode, Barry Bobrow engages in a detailed market talk with Maria Dikeos and CJ Doherty of Refinitiv. Armed with Q3 market data they discuss the dramatic falloff in volume in the broadly syndicated markets for loans and bonds. They also examine the equally dramatic rise in the direct lending market that has somewhat filled the gap. Then they look at the asset-based market, which was on record pace through Q3 after setting a new annual record in 2021. Finally, Barry, Maria and CJ look forward to Q4 and beyond with some predictions on market direction which will complement the latest SFNet Market Pulse Report and its 2023 outlook. This podcast makes extensive use of slides so we recommend you download the slides, which are available in the episode description on the SFNet presents In The Know web page.

Every day we are reminded of the impact of inflation and rising interest rates on two industries that are heavily represented in most asset-based loan portfolios, housing and building products. To better understand current trends in these industries, host Barry Bobrow talks with Gary Michel, former Chairman and CEO of JELD-WEN Holding, Inc., a leading manufacturer of windows and doors. In addition to his work at JELD-WEN, Gary has had a long career in residential and commercial construction-related markets from his many years with Ingersoll Rand. Gary offers great insights and shares his thoughts on the next steps for these critical markets.