Ausbiz interview series with Frank Danieli
Join Frank Danieli, Managing Director and Head of Credit Investments and Lending on his regular Ausbiz appearance as he engages in a wide-ranging discussion on credit markets.
21 JULY 2023
What does the global contraction in credit availability mean for investors in companies relying on financing?
Is there a significant credit default cycle coming? Which parts of the market might be most affected, and where might be the best opportunities?
Frank Danieli, our Head of Credit Investments & Lending, addresses these questions and more with AusBiz host Nadine Blayney.
13 JULY 2023
Bond markets sold off heavily last week sending yields soaring. What caused the rout, will volatility persist, and why do investors keep getting caught out?
In his latest interview with Andrew Geoghegan from AusBiz, our Head of Credit Investments & Lending Frank Danieli discusses bond markets, along with the three most important things when it comes to investing in private credit:
Frank and Andrew also discuss the future of the traditional 60/40 portfolio.
03 MAY 2023
Following our acquisition of New York based specialty credit asset manager Blue Elephant Capital Management announced yesterday, our Head of Credit Investments & Lending Frank Danieli spoke with Nadine Blayney from Ausbiz.
Frank explained why we made this acquisition, along with how rapidly rising interest rates and ructions in the US regional banking sector is creating exceptional opportunities in credit markets – in particular a gap in providing critical funding and capital to otherwise high quality, middle market borrowers.
18 APRIL 2023
The most aggressive, globally coordinated interest rate tightening cycle on record, including 10 consecutive Cash Rate rises by the RBA, could have quite a long-term impact on markets.
However, amid the uncertainty and volatility created by a rapid change in base rates, we see a generational opportunity in credit markets.
The scale of opportunity to provide financing to high quality borrowers underserviced by traditional institutions, or acquire high quality credit at attractive returns, is greater than it has been in many years.
In his latest interview with AusBiz’s Kyle Rodda, Frank Danieli our Head of Credit Investments and Lending explains how we are seeing the opportunities credit markets locally and globally, and how investors can capitalise in the current environment.
05 APRIL 2023
Does a global bank fallout lead to a credit squeeze, or generate opportunities?
Our Head of Credit Investments and Lending, Frank Danieli, was in the US as Silicon Valley Bank was collapsing and the regional banking crisis was taking hold.
In his latest discussion with Nadine Blayney from AusBiz, Frank explains the stark differences between the current banking situation and the Global Financial Crisis, and why he thinks there is a huge opportunity for other types of credit providers to step in and providing important funding to good borrowers.
22 FEBRUARY 2023
We are in the most aggressive, globally coordinated interest rate tightening cycle on record.
In his first interview of 2023 with Nadine Blayney from AusBiz, our Head of Credit Investments and Lending, Frank Danieli explains why in the current macro environment we believe it is sensible for investors to be defensively positioned.
He explains the advantages of defensive floating rate private credit investments in a rising interest rate environment, and where we are seeing the biggest opportunities including in specialty finance, receivable funding and real estate credit.
14 DECEMBER 2022
In Frank Danieli’s final AusBiz interview for 2022 he and Nadine Blayney reflect on the year that was for credit markets where a decade of loose and extraordinary monetary policy came to an end, and discuss what could be in store in 2023.
Looking back on 2022, Frank explains how the poor performance of bonds globally, combined with what he believes have been “some of the best conditions in a generation for floating rate private credit”, appears to have accelerated investors’ shift towards the private asset class.
What’s in store for 2023? Frank explains some of the opportunities he sees – both locally and globally – in private credit for investors to capitalise.
02 DECEMBER 2022
What does the FTX collapse and its contagion effect across the crypto landscape mean for adoption of new technologies like blockchain to power finance and lending?
In his latest AusBiz interview with Andrew Geoghegan, self-confessed “traditional credit and finance guy” and our Head of Credit Investments and Lending, Frank Danieli, shares his views and discusses whether MA Financial would ever lend on the blockchain.
03 NOVEMBER 2022
Now might be the best time for credit investing in a generation, according to Frank Danieli, our Head of Credit Investments and Lending, but it's also a time to be cautious and ensure your portfolio is focused on high quality assets that will be resilient through ongoing market volatility.
Frank discussed how investors can capitalise on these thematics without risking their portfolio during his regular appearance on ausbiz with Andrew Geoghegan this week. They also discussed some emerging opportunities in credit which might arise from the federal budget handed down last week, despite its fiscal tightening agenda.
19 OCTOBER 2022
In the past few weeks, UK pension funds and other global investors have been rapidly auctioning off around $1 billion of Australian mortgage and asset backed securities.
Many investors are wondering why. More importantly, what does this ‘fire sale’ mean for Australia’s credit markets, borrowing costs and lending conditions. Is it a threat or are there opportunities at play?
Frank Danieli, Managing Director and Head of Credit Investments and Lending, answers these questions and more during his regular appearance on ausbiz with Andrew Geoghegan.
05 OCTOBER 2022
Is it time to be greedy when others are fearful?
Bonds and traditional fixed income are experiencing their worst performance in decades following aggressive rate moves by central banks. Is there opportunity amongst this chaos? Alternatively, is it time for investors to look beyond bonds for the defensive part of their portfolio including towards high quality, private market, floating rate credit investments that may offer protection in the current market.
And in a rising rate environment, is there a risk that higher funding costs will create a class of over-leveraged, zombie companies as central banks continue to pursuing a tightening cycle? What does this mean for investors?
07 SEPTEMBER 2022
There is ongoing debate about the role Australia’s $3+ trillion superannuation system can play in financing ‘nation building’ initiatives, from social housing to decarbonising the economy and lending to local businesses to unlock growth.
Is this only a theme for large institutions like super funds or are there worthwhile opportunities for private investors to participate?
Managing Director Frank Danieli was asked about this topical issue during his regular appearance on AusBiz with Andrew Geoghegan.
In addition to explaining why he thinks the current debate is “a little bit upside down,” Frank also discussed with Andrew how investors can earn compelling risk-adjusted returns while gaining exposure to secular thematics like funding Australia’s growth, business investment in ‘onshoring’ and the sustainable energy transition through private credit.
09 AUGUST 2022
US half-year earnings season is nearing its end, while in Australian companies are just beginning to report. What lessons can be gleaned from global companies about the outlook for Australian consumers and businesses? And what does this mean for credit investors, banks & financial institutions in our market?
In today’s bi-weekly Tuesday morning interview with Ausbiz, Frank Danieli, Managing Director and Head of Credit Investments and Lending, discussed this topic with Andrew Geoghegan.
They also addressed the hot topic that over $250 billion of home loans on ultra-cheap fixed rates are expiring in the next 18 months. These customers will have to pay much higher rates. What does this mean and what should investors be considering when making investment decisions?
26 JULY 2022
Traditional fixed income (bonds) did not perform its intended defensive function in the last year, falling double digits in value globally. Many investors are now turning to other defensive strategies like private credit for more resilient returns and income.
In his latest bi-weekly interview with Ausbiz, Frank Danieli, Managing Director and Head of Credit Investments and Lending, had a wide-ranging discussion with Andrew Geoghegan addressing this trend and whether the opportunities are better in public or private assets.
What is the best way to access this trend? Is it listed investment companies (LICs) which were a hot commodity several years ago, or is this a value trap for investors?
They also dove into the big Private versus Public debate for investors in managed funds to superannuation: how do investors get certainty about true valuation and performance?
12 JULY 2022
2021 was a blockbuster year for debt markets with a lot of companies loading up on cheap loans. Is the tide turning as rates climb, and could this drive an increase in corporate debt defaults? Are there hidden risks investors aren’t seeing?
In his latest wide-ranging interview with Ausbiz, Frank Danieli, Managing Director and Head of Credit Investments and Lending, discusses these questions with Nadine Blayney along with recent bond market sell-offs and the opportunities in the often-overlooked Private Credit market.
28 JUNE 2022
In his latest interview with Ausbiz, Frank Danieli, Managing Director and Head of Lending and Credit, had a wide-ranging discussion with Andrew Geoghegan covering:
Fintech: is this a generational opportunity to buy disruptive companies changing the future of finance, or is there more pain to come? And why, when it comes to investing, we see opportunities in the credit space and owning the underlying loan books versus trying to pick the winners.
Banks and financials: historically, rising interest rates have meant banks could expand their net interest margins by charging customers more. Will that happen this time, or are different factors at play?
15 JUNE 2022
In the current market characterised by high inflation, rising interest rates and volatile equity and bond markets, many borrowers and investors are turning to private credit.
In his latest interview with AusBiz, Frank Danieli, Managing Director and Head of Lending and Credit, discusses the outlook for non-bank lenders and private credit funds, and explains why there continues to be a tremendous amount of investor capital flowing into this $250 billion variable rate asset class.
