Share

cover art for Ep 26 - NorthWall Capital founder Fabian Chrobog on opportunities in European private credit

Alternative Fund Insight

Ep 26 - NorthWall Capital founder Fabian Chrobog on opportunities in European private credit

Season 2, Ep. 2

Start by signing up to AFI's FREE weekly intel newsletter: alternativefundinsight.com/newsletter-sign-up/*


In episode 2 of the second series of the AFI podcast, host Will Wainewright is joined by Fabian Chrobog, founder of North Wall Capital, a near-€2bn private credit manager based in London. See topics covered in the notes at the bottom of this section.


You can subscribe to the AFI podcast on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or any other podcast app. All feedback welcome! If you enjoyed this or other episodes please subscribe, leave a rating and review.


Contact Will: will@alternativefundinsight.com Visit the website: www.alternativefundinsight.com


Follow the latest developments via our LinkedIn page: www.linkedin.com/company/alternative-fund-insight


Release date: 10 December 2024


*No part of this audio constitutes investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future returns*


1:28 - Introduction to Fabian and North Wall

3:16 - Evolution into diversified firm

4:59 - Impact of higher-for-longer rates outlook. Focus on situational complexity opportunities.

9:29 - Focus on asset-backed opportunities.

11:36 - Is it ‘next frontier’ in private credit?

12:25 - Legal assets strategy

14:36 - How do you make decisions on which legal situations to focus on?

16:45 - Impact of US election result?

18:29 - ESG agenda has taken a battering - implications?

20:27 - HQ in London and thoughts on political changes

21:46 - Message for the Labour government?

22:05 - Continuing focus on European illiquids. More international interest.

23:23 - Bubble in private credit?

24:50 - Culture and recruitment

26:27 - Key priorities for 2025 

More episodes

View all episodes

  • 18. Ep 42 - Man Group CIO Greg Bond on AI adoption, multi-strategy and more at the world's largest listed hedge fund manager

    24:40||Season 2, Ep. 18
    Get 360-degree insights and agenda-setting research into hedge funds and multi-strategy with AFI membership. Email commercial@alternativefundinsight.com for corporate discounts.Follow the latest developments via our LinkedIn page. Sign up to free AFI bulletins. Get a free weekly multi-strategy update.In this episode, Will interviews Man Group's Greg Bond in his first interview since promotion to CIO at the $193.3bn firm. Topics by timestamp:1:45 - Introduction to Greg, his career background and new role.2:33 - His take on volatility of the last few months and the role of alternatives in that environment.3:32 - Importance of Solutions offering, rise of multi-strategy in the sector.5:11 - Customisation trend continues apace.7:45 - How he sees multi-strategy concept, rise of new approaches.10:14 - Role of technology at Man Group, areas of innovation.12:53 - How can AI be used to unlock more opportunities.14:35 - Including on the operational side, now just in alpha generation.15:59 - Position of hedge funds, more in vogue now rates higher and liquidity key.17:55 - Other key edges for Man Group.19:34 - Sports and investments world crossover, data-driven decision-making, his “Moneyball” experience with Boston Red Sox.22:00 - What’s next for Man Group?*Not investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns*Headline partnerThis podcast is brought to you in association with Citco, the leading asset servicer with over $2 trillion of assets under administration (AUA) and the top hedge fund administrator according to the AFI 500 research ranking. Citco acts as a true partner to its clients, dedicated to developing rich long-term relationships through gold standard services and industry leading technology. Head to Citco.com for more information. Episode partnerThis podcast is brought to you in association with Altaira Strategic Partners, which partners with emerging and established asset managers to provide a state-of-the-art institutional operating environment. Their cutting edge approach helps managers to bring their products and ideas to the marketplace with speed, efficiency and the latest innovations. Its heritage goes back to TIG which has been providing institutional back and middle office services to fund managers since 1980. Meet the team in Mayfair at the AFI Acceleration Summit on 1 October and AFI Innovation Summit on 13 November, and visit altairastrat.com for more information.
  • 17. Ep 41 - H1 hedge fund report: steady gains, private wealth inflows and increased SMA use, with Declan Quilligan, Citco's Head of Hedge Fund Services

    17:31||Season 2, Ep. 17
    Get 360-degree insights and agenda-setting research into hedge funds and multi-strategy with AFI membership. Use the code PODCAST10 for a 10% discount on AFI Intelligence (first year, new subscribers only). Group discounts available for corporates: Ask Will or email commercial@alternativefundinsight.com for more details!You can subscribe to the AFI podcast on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or any other podcast app. All ratings and feedback welcome!Follow the latest developments via our LinkedIn page. Sign up to free AFI bulletins. Get a free weekly multi-strategy update.In this episode, Will interviews Declan Quilligan, head of hedge fund services at Citco, to review industry trends in H1, which saw hedge funds gain through volatile markets, inflows continue, with more interest from private wealth channels, and the use of SMAs increase. Find topics by timestamp below:1:44 - analysis with Declan Quilligan starts.2:01 - review of headline hedge fund performance trends.3:38 - equity and multi-strategy hedge funds led the way as most strats rose.4:53 - consistency a key aspect of return characteristics. Diversification.6:20 - impact on flows, rising numbers.7:24 - growth in allocations from private wealth channels.11:07 - continued growth in trading volumes, payments.13: 30 - increased use of SMA structures this decade.*Not investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns*This podcast is brought to you in association with Citco, the leading asset servicer with over $2 trillion of assets under administration (AUA) and the top hedge fund administrator according to the AFI 500 research ranking. Citco acts as a true partner to its clients, dedicated to developing rich long-term relationships through gold standard services and industry leading technology. Head to Citco.com for more information.
  • 16. Ep 40 - Technology trends and May review with Declan Quilligan, Citco's Head of Hedge Fund Services

    18:53||Season 2, Ep. 16
    Get 360-degree insights and agenda-setting research into hedge funds and multi-strategy with AFI membership. Use the code PODCAST10 for a 10% discount on AFI Intelligence (first year, new subscribers only). Group discounts available for corporates: Ask Will or email commercial@alternativefundinsight.com for more details!You can subscribe to the AFI podcast on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or any other podcast app. All ratings and feedback welcome!Follow the latest developments via our LinkedIn page. Sign up to free AFI bulletins. Get a free weekly multi-strategy update.In this episode, Will interviews Declan Quilligan, head of hedge fund services at Citco, to review industry trends in May and explore technology priorities for the sector at the midyear mark. Find topics by timestamp below:2:00 - May was a significant month of new allocations to hedge funds - the key numbers.3:25 - Multi-strategy still proving a major magnet, equity and hybrid also popular.6:35 - Performance in May was strong - the key drivers?9:11 - Thoughts on technological priorities, middle and back office efficiencies.12:08 - What is the impact of AI here?15:00 - Pace of change is only accelerating.*Not investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns*This podcast is brought to you in association with Citco, the leading asset servicer with over $2 trillion of assets under administration (AUA) and the top hedge fund administrator according to the AFI 500 research ranking. Citco acts as a true partner to its clients, dedicated to developing rich long-term relationships through gold standard services and industry leading technology. Head to Citco.com for more information.
  • 15. Ep 39 - Jack Inglis, AIMA CEO, on global regulatory shifts and the future of hedge funds

    41:54||Season 2, Ep. 15
    Get 360-degree insights and agenda-setting research into hedge funds and multi-strategy with AFI membership. Use the code PODCAST10 for a 10% discount on AFI Intelligence (first year, new subscribers only). Group discounts available for corporates: Ask Will or email commercial@alternativefundinsight.com for more details!You can subscribe to the AFI podcast on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or any other podcast app. All ratings and feedback welcome!Follow the latest developments via our LinkedIn page. Sign up to free AFI bulletins. Get a free weekly multi-strategy update.In this episode, Will interviews Jack Inglis, CEO of AIMA, for a discussion of the key trends and regulatory changes affecting the hedge fund industry outlook. Find topics by timestamp below:1:20 - JI's take on the hedge fund outlook midway through 2025 - performance and flows.4:45 - Could a hedge fund boom be on the cards?8:37 - Key industry mega-trends: rise of multi-strats, AI, SMAs usage, portable alpha.12:30 - Thoughts on ongoing fees debate.15:25 - Change in US regulatory environment.20:00 - How that changed US attitude has impacted priorities beyond the US.24:45 - Thoughts on Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other global hubs.29:10 - Rapid pace of change in the sector.31:00 - Future of private credit sector.36:30 - Future of crypto/digital assets.39: 32 - Closing words on priorities this year for AIMA.*Not investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns*This podcast is brought to you in association with Citco, the leading asset servicer with over $2 trillion of assets under administration (AUA) and the top hedge fund administrator according to the AFI 500 research ranking. Citco acts as a true partner to its clients, dedicated to developing rich long-term relationships through gold standard services and industry leading technology. Head to Citco.com for more information.
  • 14. Ep 38 - Introducing the AFI 500 hedge fund ranking, with Bill McIntosh

    25:50||Season 2, Ep. 14
    Get 360-degree insights and agenda-setting research into hedge funds and multi-strategy with AFI membership. Use the code PODCAST10 for a 10% discount on AFI Intelligence (first year, new subscribers only). Group discounts available for corporates: Ask Will or email commercial@alternativefundinsight.com for more details!You can subscribe to the AFI podcast on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or any other podcast app. All ratings and feedback welcome!Follow the latest developments via our LinkedIn page. Sign up to free AFI bulletins. Get a free weekly multi-strategy update.In this episode, the tables are turned as host Will is interviewed by Bill McIntosh of Peregrine Communications about the AFI 500 research ranking. Bill is an experienced communications professional with a background in financial journalism and hedge funds. He kindly invited Will to discuss the research on Peregrine's Marketing Leaders podcast, which you can find here. AFI is republishing the interview to serve as an introduction to the AFI 500. Head to www.peregrinecommunications.com for more information about the firm.Members can find the research here: https://alternativefundinsight.com/afi-500-global-hedge-fund-ranking-2025/Non-members can view a free introduction here: https://alternativefundinsight.com/introducing-the-afi-500-global-hedge-fund-ranking/*Not investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns*This podcast is brought to you in association with Citco, the leading asset servicer with over $2 trillion of assets under administration (AUA) and the top hedge fund administrator according to the AFI 500 research ranking. Citco acts as a true partner to its clients, dedicated to developing rich long-term relationships through gold standard services and industry leading technology. Head to Citco.com for more information.
  • 13. Ep 37 - Hedge funds advance through April volatility; with Declan Quilligan, Citco's Head of Hedge Fund Services

    16:32||Season 2, Ep. 13
    Get 360-degree insights and agenda-setting research into hedge funds and multi-strategy with AFI membership. Use the code PODCAST10 for a 10% discount on AFI Intelligence (first year, new subscribers only). Group discounts available for corporates: Ask Will or email commercial@alternativefundinsight.com for more details!You can subscribe to the AFI podcast on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or any other podcast app. All ratings and feedback welcome!Follow the latest developments via our LinkedIn page. Sign up to free AFI bulletins. Get a free weekly multi-strategy update.This week on the AFI podcast, Will is joined by Declan Quilligan, Head of Hedge Fund Services at Citco, to discuss industry trends in April based on the firm's latest monthly research.April was characterised by high market volatility, mainly driven by US trade war policy after President Trump's 2 April announcement on tariffs. Hedge funds navigated the volatility to deliver an average monthly gain of 0.9% on a fund weighted basis, per Citco data, and industry inflows continued.On the agenda: key insights on hedge fund strategy performance, flows, treasury payments and trade volumes during a rollercoaster month. Find topics by time-stamp and listen links below. Find the full Citco report here and AFI's coverage here.1:42 - Industry performance headlines in April.5:00 - Positive in turbulent month - downside protection fulfilled. Diversification is key.7:00 - Overview by strategy.7.30 - Focus on multi-strategy. Strong risk management.8.35 - Focus on inflows into hedge funds, key themes.9.48 - European funds have highest inflows on regional basis.11:10 - Another increase in trading volumes amidst the volatility.12:24 - Treasury payments also remain elevated.14:00 - Big picture view on performance trends.Episode recorded on 21 May 2025.*Not investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns*This podcast is brought to you in association with Citco, the leading asset servicer with over $2 trillion of assets under administration (AUA) and the top hedge fund administrator according to the AFI 500 research ranking. Citco acts as a true partner to its clients, dedicated to developing rich long-term relationships through gold standard services and industry leading technology. Head to Citco.com for more information.
  • 12. Ep 36 - Q1 trends with Declan Quilligan, Citco's Head of Hedge Fund Services

    18:54||Season 2, Ep. 12
    Get 360-degree insights and agenda-setting research into hedge funds and multi-strategy with AFI membership. Use the code PODCAST10 for a 10% discount on AFI Intelligence (first year, new subscribers only). Group discounts available for corporates: Ask Will or email commercial@alternativefundinsight.com for more details!You can subscribe to the AFI podcast on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or any other podcast app. All ratings and feedback welcome!Follow the latest developments via our LinkedIn page. Sign up to free AFI bulletins. Get a free weekly multi-strategy update.This week on the AFI podcast, Will is joined by Declan Quilligan, Head of Hedge Fund Services at Citco, to discuss industry trends in Q1 based on the firm's latest quarterly research.The first quarter was anything but quiet, comprising the start of the Trump presidency in the US, the emergence of the Deep-Seek AI model, an unprecedented German fiscal package and growing speculation over US trade policy ahead of the early April announcement on tariffs.On the agenda: key insights on hedge fund strategy performance, flows, treasury payments and trade volumes. Find topics by time-stamp and listen links below. Find the full Citco report here and AFI's coverage here.1:36 - Introduction to interview and Q1 overview.2:11 - DQ gives key headlines on hedge fund performance in Q1; Tenth successive quarter of gains for sector.4:45 - Zeroing in on multi-strategy - further strength in Q1, continuing recent trends.7:30 - Exploration of scale.8:21 - $7.1bn of net inflows in Q1, about half of which in multi-strategy.10:55 - Ability of hedge funds to protect capital in volatile times.12:08 - High levels of Treasury Payments in Q1, big y/o/y growth.14:25 - Also very high trading volumes, volatile Q1 sees two of busiest months on record.16:34 - Importance of hedge fund return profile in market turbulence.Episode recorded on 6 May 2025.*Not investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns*This podcast is brought to you in association with Citco, the leading asset servicer with over $2 trillion of assets under administration (AUA) and the top hedge fund administrator according to the AFI 500 research ranking. Citco acts as a true partner to its clients, dedicated to developing rich long-term relationships through gold standard services and industry leading technology. Head to Citco.com for more information.
  • 11. Ep 35 - IRF founder Edward Blad reveals how independent research providers help hedge funds

    19:02||Season 2, Ep. 11
    Get 360-degree insights and agenda-setting research into hedge funds and multi-strategy with AFI membership. Use the code PODCAST10 for a 10% discount on AFI Intelligence (first year, new subscribers only). Group discounts available for corporates: https://alternativefundinsight.com/membership-options/ Ask Will or email commercial@alternativefundinsight.com for more details!Discover the 25 most influential global hedge fund allocators: https://alternativefundinsight.com/power25-hedge-fund-allocator-ranking-2024/You can subscribe to the AFI podcast on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or any other podcast app. All feedback welcome! If you enjoyed this or other episodes please subscribe, leave a rating and review.Contact Will: will@alternativefundinsight.com Visit the AFI website: www.alternativefundinsight.com.Follow the latest developments via our LinkedIn page: www.linkedin.com/company/alternative-fund-insightSign up to free AFI bulletins: https://alternativefundinsight.com/newsletter-sign-up/Get a free weekly multi-strategy update: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7287811820046696448This week on the AFI podcast, Will is joined by Edward Blad, founder of the Independent Research Forum (IRF) in London, which connects hedge funds and other investors with top quality research providers. IRF has been a supporter of AFI since the first episode and we are pleased to give a spotlight to the business today. Please find a timing guide to the episode below and head to https://irf.uk/ to explore the IRF business or contact Edward at edward@irf.uk or LinkedIn.Release date: 24 April 2025 (recorded on 16 April 2025)1:50 - Introduction to Edward Blad and the IRF.2:20 - Scale and strategy range of providers on offer.3:27 - Global nature of business.4:55 - Different asset classes and how it has changed over time.7:40 - Growing use of macro providers in current market volatility.10:00 - Importance of in-person research and meetings.10:55 - Impact of recent weeks on research inbox.11:25 - How can hedge funds use the platform?13:12 - Changes to independent research over the years.15:35 - Future of the space. Example of Wolfgang Munchau’s offering, EuroIntelligence.17:00 - How to follow IRF. *Not investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns*
  • 10. Ep 34 - Donald Pepper, Trium Capital's head of multi-strategy, on cultivating trading talent and the role of hedge funds

    34:17||Season 2, Ep. 10
    Get 360-degree insights and agenda-setting research into hedge funds and multi-strategy with AFI membership. Use the code PODCAST10 for a 10% discount on AFI Intelligence (first year, new subscribers only). Group discounts available for corporates: https://alternativefundinsight.com/membership-options/ Ask Will or email commercial@alternativefundinsight.com for more details!Donald Pepper, co-CEO and head of multi-strategy at Trium Capital, takes listeners inside the growth of the London firm, which has doubled assets to $3bn in the past 18 months, on the latest AFI podcast.Discover the 25 most influential global hedge fund allocators: https://alternativefundinsight.com/power25-hedge-fund-allocator-ranking-2024/You can subscribe to the AFI podcast on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or any other podcast app. All feedback welcome! If you enjoyed this or other episodes please subscribe, leave a rating and review.Contact Will: will@alternativefundinsight.com Visit the AFI website: www.alternativefundinsight.com.Follow the latest developments via our LinkedIn page: www.linkedin.com/company/alternative-fund-insightSign up to free AFI bulletins: https://alternativefundinsight.com/newsletter-sign-up/Get a free weekly multi-strategy update: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7287811820046696448Release date: 13 April 2025 (recorded on 8 April 2025)1:50 - Introduction to Donald Pepper's career background and Trium Capital.3:55 - His take on the industry outlook in 2025 and the role of hedge funds in a portfolio.5:37 - Recent industry performance drivers and market volatility.7:47 - Zooming in on multi-strategy - Trium's approach, and how it finds and partners with trading talent. Key differences with pod-shops.14:00 - Why he sees simplicity in the multi-strategy model.16:27 - Appeal and significance of the Ucits offering.20:00 - Increased use of dedicated managed accounts.23:12 - Pepper's view of the future evolution of the hedge fund space.25:57 - Perspective on private markets.27:54 - Global nature of hedge fund industry - his take.30:44 - Focus on growth and attracting talented PMs to further grow the business.*Not investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns*