Alt Goes Mainstream: The Latest on Alternative Investments, WealthTech, & Private Markets

Welcome back to the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast.Today’s episode brings infrastructure investing to life — literally.We sat down in and walked through one of Stonepeak’s data center assets with Managing Director and CEO of SP+ INFRA, Cyrus Gentry.Cyrus has played an integral role in Stonepeak’s rapid ascent as a firm and the growth of its wealth solutions business, Stonepeak+, joining early in the firm’s history and helping the firm grow to approximately $80B in AUM.Cyrus brings a private equity perspective to infrastructure investing. Prior to Stonepeak, he held investing roles at BC Partners and Advent International. He also serves as one of the Church Commissioners for the Church of England, who hold responsibility for managing the Church’s £11.1B permanent endowment fund.Cyrus and I had a fascinating and thought-provoking discussion about infrastructure investing and why and how it can fit within a wealth client’s portfolio. We covered:How Cyrus’ background in private equity investing has transferred over to investing in infrastructure.The opportunity and risks of data center investing.The risk of overbuilding in data centers.Why location matters for data centers.What makes interconnection data centers attractive data center assets.How Cyrus and Stonepeak have built their wealth solutions business and how they’ve endeavored to be different in how they’ve built out the business.How Stonepeak’s wealth business is a reflection of the firm’s DNA.Thanks Cyrus for coming on the show to share your expertise, wisdom, and passion for infrastructure investing and working with the wealth channel.Show Notes00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message01:57 Welcome to the Alt Goes Mainstream Podcast02:04 Introducing Cyrus Gentry and Stonepeak00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message03:25 Cyrus's Journey from Private Equity to Infrastructure04:56 Understanding Infrastructure Investing06:10 The Importance of Moats in Infrastructure06:57 Differences Between Private Equity and Infrastructure07:38 Stonepeak's Growth and Strategy09:06 Specialization in Infrastructure Investment09:54 Balancing Long-Term Horizons with Industry Changes11:15 The Role of Data Centers in Modern Life14:43 Investment Perspectives on Connectivity15:55 Challenges in Infrastructure Investing17:10 Executing Value Creation Plans19:06 Structured Capital in Infrastructure Deals21:17 Trends and Scale in Infrastructure Investment22:43 Patience and Discipline in Investment23:34 Global Expansion and Strategy Diversification24:09 Collaborative Approach with Corporates24:42 Capital and Problem Solving25:02 Building Stonepeak Wealth Solutions25:30 Infrastructure Asset Class Benefits25:47 Strategic Planning and Vision26:05 Creation of Stonepeak-Plus26:15 Early Discussions on Wealth Business27:32 Team Dynamics and Entrepreneurial DNA27:59 Understanding the Wealth Market28:56 Educating Investors on Infrastructure29:50 Allocating Infrastructure in Portfolios30:07 Global Perspectives on Infrastructure32:18 Learning from Institutional Investors33:19 Common Questions from Wealth Channel34:02 Mega Trends and Investment Strategies34:46 Core, Core Plus, and Value Add Assets36:12 AI and Data Centers40:20 Power and Energy in Data Centers42:34 Local and Global Investment Strategies44:12 Geopolitical Risks and Infrastructure46:36 Lessons Learned and Future OutlookEditing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant.A word from AGM podcast sponsor, Ultimus Fund SolutionsThis episode of Alt Goes Mainstream is brought to you by Ultimus Fund Solutions, a leading full-service fund administrator for asset managers in private and public markets. As private markets continue to move into the mainstream, the industry requires infrastructure solutions that help funds and investors keep pace. In an increasingly sophisticated financial marketplace, investment managers must navigate a growing array of challenges: elaborate fund structures, specialized strategies, evolving compliance requirements, a growing need for sophisticated reporting, and intensifying demands for transparency.To assist with these challenging opportunities, more and more fund sponsors and asset managers are turning to Ultimus, a leading service provider that blends high tech and high touch in unique and customized fund administration and middle office solutions for a diverse and growing universe of over 450 clients and 1,800 funds, representing $500 billion assets under administration, all handled by a team of over 1,000 professionals. Ultimus offers a wide range of capabilities across registered funds, private funds and public plans, as well as outsourced middle office services. Delivering operational excellence, Ultimus helps firms manage the ever-changing regulatory environment while meeting the needs of their institutional and retail investors. Ultimus provides comprehensive operational support and fund governance services to help managers successfully launch retail alternative products.Visit www.ultimusfundsolutions.com to learn more about Ultimus’ technology enhanced services and solutions or contact Ultimus Executive Vice President of Business Development Gary Harris on email at [email protected] thank Ultimus for their support of alts going mainstream.

Welcome back to the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast.Today’s episode takes us inside the world of wealth from the perspective of one of the industry’s largest alternative asset managers that has made the wealth channel core to its firm’s DNA from the beginning.We sat down with Sean Connor, Senior Managing Director and the President & CEO of Global Private Wealth at Blue Owl Capital, a firm with almost $300B in AUM. Sean highlighted a number of key insights for navigating and working with the wealth channel as he shared lessons learned from building a successful private wealth business at a large alternative asset manager.Sean is responsible for bringing the breadth of the Blue Owl investment platform to the global private wealth market. He’s at the forefront of Blue Owl’s private wealth initiatives globally and oversees fund formation, product structure innovation, capital raising, and client servicing. He also oversees business development, marketing, and operations for Private Wealth at the firm. Prior to his current role, Sean was one of the first employees at Owl Rock (now the Direct Lending division of Blue Owl) and was responsible for building out the private wealth business.Prior to joining Blue Owl and Owl Rock, Sean served as a Managing Director of CION Investment Management for over 10 years. Sean was a member of CION’s Investment Committee and was responsible for all aspects of CION’s business including originating, underwriting, and negotiating corporate finance transactions globally. In 2020, Sean was recognized by Private Debt Investor as one of the industry’s Rising Stars.Sean and I had a fascinating conversation about what it’s like to work with the wealth channel. We discussed:The biggest drivers of AUM growth for Blue Owl and how the wealth channel has been a major part of the firm’s story of scale.Lessons learned from growing and scaling a private wealth business in the US and internationally.The differences between the wealth channel a few years ago and the wealth channel today.What the wealth channel wants and needs from its alternative asset manager partners.Why Blue Owl focuses on investing in megatrends, like AI, digital infrastructure, and private credit.The opportunity in the 401(k) and retirement channels.Thanks Sean for coming back on the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast to share your expertise and wisdom on private markets and private wealth.Show Notes00:00 Introduction to Ultimus, our Sponsor01:57 Welcome to the Alt Goes Mainstream Podcast and Episode Overview02:10 Guest Introduction: Sean Connor04:07 Growth Drivers for Blue Owl04:45 Diversification and Market Strategy05:17 Focus on Private Credit and Real Assets06:54 Brand Essence and Market Leadership11:25 Client Education and The Nest14:21 Implementation Challenges in Wealth Channel17:56 Customization in Wealth Management19:20 Product Structuring and Client Needs23:41 International Expansion and Market Strategy26:23 Building Brand Internationally28:01 Maintaining Entrepreneurial Culture28:42 Challenges and Success in Scaling30:38 Future Growth Areas in Wealth Business30:42 Evolution of the Wealth Business31:08 Expanding Product Strategies31:37 Growth Opportunities in the US Market32:23 Global Expansion and Execution33:01 Retirement Market Potential34:10 Bringing Parity to Retirement Ecosystem35:19 Challenges and Opportunities in Retirement35:39 Regulatory Changes and Education36:38 Long-Term Investment Strategies39:03 Private Credit and Direct Lending40:47 Market Structure and Underwriting43:47 Competition and Market Share45:54 Private Companies and Direct Lending47:56 Digital Infrastructure and AI50:18 AI Bubble Concerns51:46 Risk Management in Digital Infrastructure55:11 Focus on Downside Protection56:12 Future Investment Strategies57:23 Excitement for the Future59:13 Closing RemarksEditing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant.A word from AGM podcast sponsor, Ultimus Fund SolutionsThis episode of Alt Goes Mainstream is brought to you by Ultimus Fund Solutions, a leading full-service fund administrator for asset managers in private and public markets. As private markets continue to move into the mainstream, the industry requires infrastructure solutions that help funds and investors keep pace. In an increasingly sophisticated financial marketplace, investment managers must navigate a growing array of challenges: elaborate fund structures, specialized strategies, evolving compliance requirements, a growing need for sophisticated reporting, and intensifying demands for transparency.To assist with these challenging opportunities, more and more fund sponsors and asset managers are turning to Ultimus, a leading service provider that blends high tech and high touch in unique and customized fund administration and middle office solutions for a diverse and growing universe of over 450 clients and 1,800 funds, representing $500 billion assets under administration, all handled by a team of over 1,000 professionals. Ultimus offers a wide range of capabilities across registered funds, private funds and public plans, as well as outsourced middle office services. Delivering operational excellence, Ultimus helps firms manage the ever-changing regulatory environment while meeting the needs of their institutional and retail investors. Ultimus provides comprehensive operational support and fund governance services to help managers successfully launch retail alternative products.Visit www.ultimusfundsolutions.com to learn more about Ultimus’ technology enhanced services and solutions or contact Ultimus Executive Vice President of Business Development Gary Harris on email at [email protected] thank Ultimus for their support of alts going mainstream.

It all comes back to the DNA.The firms that know who they are will know who to be.You can learn a lot about an investment firm by listening to what they say.Alt Goes Mainstream’s AGM Originals Series - The DNA: Capturing Culture - is dedicated to capturing the DNA of a firm by listening to what they say.The first season of The DNA stars EQT. In Stockholm, at EQT’s AIM this past summer, I sat down for conversations with nine EQT executives.Each executive came from different parts of the firm — and different parts of the world.Each had fascinating backgrounds and stories about how they ended up in private markets and worked to build EQT.But there was a single throughline threaded throughout all of the discussions: the consistency and frequency that each executive talked about the firm’s mission, vision, culture, and values.That’s why it all comes back to the DNA.Episode 2 features EQT's Jean Eric Salata.Jean Eric Salata is the Chairperson EQT Asia and Head of Private Capital Asia. Jean started the regional Asian private equity investment program for UK-based Baring Private Equity Partners Ltd in 1997 and later led the management buyout of this program in 2000 to establish BPEA as an independent Firm. He has since been responsible for the investment activity of BPEA until 2022, when the company joined forces with EQT and was renamed BPEA EQT.Prior to BPEA, Jean was a Director of Hong Kong-based AIG Global Investment Corporation (Asia) Ltd., the Asian private equity investment arm of AIG. Prior to that, Jean was the Executive Vice President of Finance of Shiu Wing Steel, a Hong Kong-based industrial concern, and prior to that a management consultant with Bain & Company based in Hong Kong, Sydney, and Boston.Jean holds a B.S. (Hons) in Finance and Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated magna cum laude.Please enjoy this conversation with one of the industry's leaders in Jean Eric Salata.You can stream all the episodes on AGM’s YouTube channel at AltGoesMainstreamAGM.Show Notes00:00 Introduction: The DNA of Firms00:34 Conversations with EQT Executives01:05 Jean Salata: Chairperson of EQT Asia01:32 Jean's Early Life and Career02:26 Journey to Asia03:28 Cultural Comparisons and Private Equity04:45 The Asian Private Equity Market05:09 Structural Alpha in Asia06:12 Shareholder Activism in Japan06:45 Liquidity in Indian Stock Market08:10 Evolution of BPEA's Strategy10:16 Challenges and Opportunities in Asia11:42 EQT's Partnership and Culture12:04 Building a Lasting Enterprise13:23 Industry Consolidation Trends14:54 Growth Opportunities in Asia15:24 Rebalancing Capital to Asia16:07 Underpenetration in Private Equity18:17 Family Businesses and Generational Change18:46 Wallenberg Heritage and EQT's Reputation20:02 Long-term Growth in Asia20:50 Mid-Market Growth Fund21:21 Exit Market in Asia23:01 Perceived vs. Actual Risk in Asia23:49 Thematic Investing and Value Creation24:32 Alpha in Asian Markets25:35 Intellectual Stimulation in Asia26:44 Leadership and Continuous Learning28:38 Motivation and Career Development31:12 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Welcome to the 18th episode of the Alts Pulse, a collaboration between iCapital x Alt Goes Mainstream. In the latest episode of the Alts Pulse, a live conversation in studio with Lawrence Calcano, the Chairman & CEO of iCapital, Lawrence and I go global. We discussed his recent trip to Asia to peer into the nuances of the different wealth management markets around the globe.As the leader of a platform with over $300B of assets that is responsible for the majority of individual and advisor-led investment flows into the alts space, Lawrence and iCapital have their finger on the pulse of what’s happening in private markets across the globe.Lawrence and I had a fascinating discussion. We covered:Lawrence’s recent trip to Asia and the pulse on the ground.Asia’s growing interest in private markets.How wealth management market structures differ across the globe and what it means for alternatives distribution.Data-driven personalization for investors.Thanks Lawrence for a great conversation … look forward to the next episode! Show Notes00:00 Introduction to the Latest Episode of the Alts Pulse00:18 Insights from Asia00:40 Comparing Asia and US in Private Markets01:43 Wealth Management Market Structure02:06 iCapital's Focus on Technology02:49 Advisors' Allocation to Alternatives03:13 Evergreen Products and Client Needs03:53 HSBC and iCapital Surveys04:22 Global Adoption of Evergreen Products05:13 Distribution and Education in Private Markets06:15 Model Portfolios and Custom Exposures08:03 Strategic Distribution for GPs08:19 Global Distribution Expansion12:33 Personalization in Wealth Management14:01 Data-Driven Personalization14:45 Private Banks and Alternative Allocations16:37 Thoughts About GPs and Distribution17:24 Balancing Personalization and Scale

It all comes back to the DNA.The firms that know who they are will know who to be.You can learn a lot about an investment firm by listening to what they say.Alt Goes Mainstream’s AGM Originals Series - The DNA: Capturing Culture - is dedicated to capturing the DNA of a firm by listening to what they say.The first season of The DNA stars EQT. In Stockholm, at EQT’s AIM this past summer, I sat down for conversations with nine EQT executives.Each executive came from different parts of the firm — and different parts of the world.Each had fascinating backgrounds and stories about how they ended up in private markets and worked to build EQT.But there was a single throughline threaded throughout all of the discussions: the consistency and frequency that each executive talked about the firm’s mission, vision, culture, and values.That’s why it all comes back to the DNA.Episode 1 features EQT Founder and Chairperson Conni Jonsson. Conni founded EQT Partners AB in 1994. He has been Managing Partner since the company's foundation and as from March 1, 2014, Conni is full time working Chairperson.Prior to founding EQT Partners AB, Conni was employed by the Wallenberg Family Holding Company for seven years as Executive Vice President.Conni Jonsson graduated from the University of Linkoping in 1984, Bachelor of Science with majors in Economic Analysis and Accounting & Finance, and he has participated in the Program for Management Development at the Harvard Business School.Please enjoy this conversation with one of the industry's leaders in Conni Jonsson.You can stream all the episodes on AGM’s YouTube channel at AltGoesMainstreamAGM.Show Notes 00:00 The DNA: Capturing Culture Episode 100:21 EQT's Origins and Global Reach01:38 Conni Jonsson's Background and Journey02:00 Founding EQT: Embracing Uniqueness04:03 Balancing Responsibility and Financial Outcomes05:09 The Wallenberg Family's Influence06:36 Long-Term Thinking in Investing07:20 Operationalizing Long-Term Values08:13 EQT's Distinct Investment Approach10:12 The Importance of Culture in Business11:28 EQT's Focus on Core Competencies12:53 Global Investment Strategies13:20 Engaging with Institutional and Wealth Investors14:15 Educating the Wealth Channel17:10 Diversification and Global Exposure18:19 Investing in Asia: Structural Alpha20:40 Mitigating Political Risks20:47 Future Skills in Private Markets22:51 Aligning Good Business with Good Returns24:38 Conclusion: The Winner Takes It All