Frank Danieli: The value-add of operational expertise – MA Financials’ Credit and Real Estate capability

In this episode, Ryan Loehr speaks in detail with Frank Danieli, Head of Lending and Credit at MA Financial. Frank has been with the firm for over a decade and responsible for MA’s Global Credit Solutions platform – covering asset backed lending, corporate debt, bonds and credit opportunity verticals. Frank also has strategic oversight of the firm’s lending businesses, which include non-bank lending and financial technology platforms and its principal credit initiatives. Frank has a substantial background in corporate advisory, focused on special situations, M&A and financial services transactions.

For those not familiar with MA Financial, its as one of the most interesting financial services businesses in the country. It’s has earned a strong reputation in local investment banking ranks, which should come as little surprise given this business is a legacy of veteran investment banker and Billionaire Ken Moelis,and Andrew Pridham who at only 28 went on to become a UBS Head of Investment Banking, and there after Executive Chairman of Investment Banking at JP Morgan.Then UBS colleagues Chris Wyke and Julian Biggins coming together to now co-lead the firm. Both the founders and senior executives in the MA business have deep expertise in real estate, with several local pioneers in what A-REITs are today, and by nature of that, private credit and lending which complement sit.

We talk to the types of investments and opportunities that the MA Business focuses on and reflect on how its team has delivered strong returns for investors –often by leveraging their operational expertise to drive additional returns. Examples include how the Red cape and MA Hotels business, owned by MA Financial have helped improve pubs and hotels operations and profitability; how acquiring Finsure a mortgage aggregator, has given the MA credit arm a unique set of datato monitor the health of Australia’s lending ecosystem; or how Retpro has givenit’s real asset investments an operational expertise in managing retailproperty.

We touch on macro and financial conditions, MA Financial’s expected returns across different types of credit; and recent acquisitions including of US Credit Manager Blue Elephant; and the largest set of Marina’s in the Australian eastcoast from Balmain and Goldman Sachs. It’s a well-rounded and in-depth conversation for anyone learning about MA, particularly the history it has indriving operational value of assets and investments, but also, for those wanting to understand some of the benefits – and key considerations across theMA asset management product suite.

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