1 00:00:04,760 --> 00:00:08,080 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Bloomberg P and L Podcast. I'm Pim Fox. 2 00:00:08,119 --> 00:00:11,200 Speaker 1: Along with my co host Lisa Abramowitz. Each day we 3 00:00:11,280 --> 00:00:14,480 Speaker 1: bring you the most important, noteworthy, and useful interviews for 4 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:16,880 Speaker 1: you and your money, whether at the grocery store or 5 00:00:16,920 --> 00:00:20,680 Speaker 1: the trading floor. Find the Bloomberg P L Podcast on iTunes, 6 00:00:20,840 --> 00:00:29,280 Speaker 1: SoundCloud and at Bloomberg dot com. We have Lawrence Gallop. 7 00:00:29,320 --> 00:00:32,200 Speaker 1: He is the chief executive of Gallum Capital ascids under 8 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:35,320 Speaker 1: management about twenty billion dollars. They're based in Chicago, but 9 00:00:35,400 --> 00:00:37,800 Speaker 1: he joins us here in our New York studio. Lawrence, 10 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:40,440 Speaker 1: thanks very much for being here. Much appreciated. Tell people 11 00:00:40,479 --> 00:00:42,960 Speaker 1: about your focus, and the reason I want to do 12 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:44,640 Speaker 1: this quickly is because I want to get to this 13 00:00:44,680 --> 00:00:48,159 Speaker 1: idea of revenue in the mid market. You've done some surveys. 14 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:50,879 Speaker 1: Revenue in the US middle market group eight and a 15 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:53,800 Speaker 1: half percent during the first two months of Q one. 16 00:00:54,920 --> 00:00:57,400 Speaker 1: We're a non bank lending business. We lend to medium 17 00:00:57,440 --> 00:01:00,920 Speaker 1: sized companies in the United States, typically with revenue between 18 00:01:01,040 --> 00:01:04,040 Speaker 1: about fifty million dollars and five hundred million dollars. So 19 00:01:04,080 --> 00:01:07,280 Speaker 1: these are businesses that are smaller than typical public companies. 20 00:01:07,319 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 1: As a lender. We have loans outstanding to about two 21 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:14,560 Speaker 1: hundred companies and we're monitoring receiving their financial information on 22 00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:18,319 Speaker 1: a monthly basis. The Gallup Capital Middle Market Report focuses 23 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:21,320 Speaker 1: on an early look at actual revenue and profit from 24 00:01:21,360 --> 00:01:24,640 Speaker 1: the first two months of each calendar quarter. So the 25 00:01:24,680 --> 00:01:26,840 Speaker 1: growth and revenue of about eight and a half percent 26 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:29,360 Speaker 1: that you refer to is what we've seen in the 27 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:32,880 Speaker 1: portfolio for January and February, you know, just to sort 28 00:01:32,880 --> 00:01:36,000 Speaker 1: of give more to flesh that out. Gallob overseas about 29 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:38,120 Speaker 1: twenty billion dollars in assets and is one of the 30 00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:41,120 Speaker 1: best known names in the middle market area. And I 31 00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:42,960 Speaker 1: have to say I was looking through report and I 32 00:01:42,959 --> 00:01:45,120 Speaker 1: was struck not just by the increase in revenues, but 33 00:01:45,160 --> 00:01:51,320 Speaker 1: by the massive dispersion of avita of earnings UH depending 34 00:01:51,360 --> 00:01:53,960 Speaker 1: on the sector. I mean, you have consumer UH companies 35 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:57,000 Speaker 1: that are seeing negative earnings a decline in earnings, whereas 36 00:01:57,000 --> 00:02:01,600 Speaker 1: you see technology companies seeing an increase of more than earning. 37 00:02:01,640 --> 00:02:03,480 Speaker 1: So can you explain, I mean, have you ever seen 38 00:02:03,560 --> 00:02:06,840 Speaker 1: such dispersion before in your life? This dispersion is very wide, 39 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:09,920 Speaker 1: and it's really a story of an ability to control 40 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:13,440 Speaker 1: costs and an ability to have operating leverage as volume 41 00:02:13,480 --> 00:02:16,080 Speaker 1: goes up or down in the tech sector. In our 42 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:19,200 Speaker 1: tech sector is primarily business to business software, There's been 43 00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:23,440 Speaker 1: tremendous investment for a long time. The business buyers and 44 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:27,560 Speaker 1: invest the purchasers of the software are eager to get 45 00:02:27,639 --> 00:02:30,480 Speaker 1: the efficiency gains that come from it, and that sector 46 00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:33,560 Speaker 1: is just really knocking the cover off the ball. Contrast 47 00:02:33,639 --> 00:02:36,560 Speaker 1: that with say healthcare, where for the third quarter in 48 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:40,160 Speaker 1: a row, we've seen recentably good revenue growth, but the 49 00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:42,560 Speaker 1: typical companies and healthcare have not been able to control 50 00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:44,680 Speaker 1: their costs. So so, in other words, when you see 51 00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:48,440 Speaker 1: revenue growth but negative negative earnings, that's the reason why, 52 00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:51,920 Speaker 1: because of costs. I think that that's the most frequent 53 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:55,119 Speaker 1: reason why. And in the case of healthcare, it's typically 54 00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:58,120 Speaker 1: labor costs. Uh. You know, we think about labor costs 55 00:02:58,120 --> 00:03:01,160 Speaker 1: in terms of just manufact during wages, but in fact 56 00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:04,120 Speaker 1: skilled wages for certain sectors are going up, and we're 57 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:06,320 Speaker 1: still seeing some of the impact of the Affordable Care 58 00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:09,120 Speaker 1: Act increased demand for health care services, which is driving 59 00:03:09,160 --> 00:03:12,080 Speaker 1: class up. Also, many other healthcare service providers you know, 60 00:03:12,080 --> 00:03:15,000 Speaker 1: are are really demonstrating they're not as good as some 61 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:19,520 Speaker 1: other industries at developing the operating efficiencies so far something 62 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:21,560 Speaker 1: my hope we'll see change over time. I want to 63 00:03:21,560 --> 00:03:23,520 Speaker 1: just ask you about an issue that we've been talking 64 00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:27,400 Speaker 1: about having to do with wage increases and productivity, because 65 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:30,400 Speaker 1: when we received the payroll report last week, we saw 66 00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:32,240 Speaker 1: an increase I think it was about two points seven 67 00:03:32,240 --> 00:03:35,760 Speaker 1: percent year over year in wage in wages and that 68 00:03:35,880 --> 00:03:38,680 Speaker 1: ends up being tied to productivity and what the question 69 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:42,720 Speaker 1: that I ask is companies choosing people over machines. Because 70 00:03:42,720 --> 00:03:46,360 Speaker 1: we hear a lot about robots and artificial intelligence in 71 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:48,760 Speaker 1: the companies that you deal with, are they looking to 72 00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:52,640 Speaker 1: replace people? Absolutely, When when we talk about business to 73 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:56,080 Speaker 1: business software, you know that that really is about getting 74 00:03:56,080 --> 00:03:58,000 Speaker 1: more out of the people. You have to delivering more 75 00:03:58,040 --> 00:04:02,280 Speaker 1: services without adding people and increasing your impact. It's one 76 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:05,040 Speaker 1: of the drivers of that sector. Let's look within the 77 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:09,640 Speaker 1: consumer products industry at restaurants, a subsector which has been weak, 78 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:13,240 Speaker 1: had been weak for several quarters. This quarter, restaurants have 79 00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:16,159 Speaker 1: actually come back some and have some margin expansion because 80 00:04:16,200 --> 00:04:19,720 Speaker 1: they've had to deal with labor efficiency. It's not necessarily 81 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:24,039 Speaker 1: firing people, it's better scheduling or all all aspects of 82 00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:27,479 Speaker 1: getting more productivity out, but with increasing minimum wages, with 83 00:04:27,560 --> 00:04:31,839 Speaker 1: the regulatory cost, healthcare costs, high labor content, businesses have 84 00:04:31,960 --> 00:04:33,720 Speaker 1: to react. That's one of the reasons I think we've 85 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:37,800 Speaker 1: seen thirty one thousand lost jobs in the retail sector. Well, 86 00:04:37,920 --> 00:04:39,760 Speaker 1: talking about retail, I just want to go back to 87 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:43,120 Speaker 1: the consumer decline in earnings. Uh This sort of negative 88 00:04:43,360 --> 00:04:47,080 Speaker 1: eight point five percent decline in ABITA among consumer companies 89 00:04:47,120 --> 00:04:51,200 Speaker 1: that you canvassed, I'm wondering, does this signal to you 90 00:04:51,320 --> 00:04:54,880 Speaker 1: broader weakness among the consumer that might not be reflected 91 00:04:54,880 --> 00:04:58,159 Speaker 1: in current economic data. Potentially, it's certainly not good news 92 00:04:58,720 --> 00:05:03,200 Speaker 1: when when you look at projections for SNPPS up nine. 93 00:05:03,839 --> 00:05:05,640 Speaker 1: There's certainly some sectors that are going to be very 94 00:05:05,680 --> 00:05:09,120 Speaker 1: strong this quarter, like energy, metals and mining, but the 95 00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:13,000 Speaker 1: consumer sector this this number is somewhat worrisome. Have you 96 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:16,680 Speaker 1: reduced your consumer exposure in your portfolio? Uh? No, We 97 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:21,279 Speaker 1: were very focused in our portfolio on non retail businesses. 98 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:24,400 Speaker 1: UH So if you if you looked at a portfolio 99 00:05:24,440 --> 00:05:27,160 Speaker 1: that included retail, the numbers might even be more significant 100 00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:31,680 Speaker 1: than this. And you also provide financing for deals that 101 00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:35,680 Speaker 1: are perhaps done by private equity firms or other non 102 00:05:35,720 --> 00:05:39,840 Speaker 1: bank financial companies. Yes, the majority of our borrowers are 103 00:05:39,880 --> 00:05:43,000 Speaker 1: controlled by private equity firms, and are you seeing that 104 00:05:43,040 --> 00:05:46,479 Speaker 1: they are getting the exit valuations that they want from 105 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 1: their deals? The deal environment has slowed down a lot 106 00:05:49,480 --> 00:05:53,320 Speaker 1: in the past several months. The combination of some some 107 00:05:53,400 --> 00:05:56,800 Speaker 1: headwinds on the consumer side, uncertainty about the deductibility of 108 00:05:56,880 --> 00:06:00,839 Speaker 1: interest owners holding off on selling because they're hoping capital 109 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:04,760 Speaker 1: gains rates will go down, the possible border adjustment tax, 110 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:07,800 Speaker 1: which very few people think will pass but everyone worries about, 111 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:11,080 Speaker 1: has all led to really a decline in the pace 112 00:06:11,120 --> 00:06:16,640 Speaker 1: of transactions. The Panera style sales and Panera is a 113 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:19,200 Speaker 1: great company, the same source sales as past quarter up 114 00:06:19,279 --> 00:06:22,640 Speaker 1: five pc, which is industry leading. But but that sort 115 00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:25,240 Speaker 1: of multiple is pretty unusual right now. Thank you so 116 00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:28,440 Speaker 1: much for joining us. Truly fascinating report. Lawrence Gallub is 117 00:06:28,480 --> 00:06:32,080 Speaker 1: chief executive officer of Gallop Capital, which oversees about twenty 118 00:06:32,080 --> 00:06:34,880 Speaker 1: billion dollars and is based in Chicago, Illinois. He was 119 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:39,279 Speaker 1: highlighting his latest gallob Capital Middle Market report, talking about 120 00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:43,240 Speaker 1: the broad dispersion in earnings depending on the sector of 121 00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:59,880 Speaker 1: smaller companies. Well, this deal was heralded last year as 122 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:03,560 Speaker 1: what was going to become the biggest energy infrastructure UH 123 00:07:03,839 --> 00:07:09,400 Speaker 1: system and distribution provider in North America. Enbridge bought Spectra 124 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:13,640 Speaker 1: Energy for thirty seven billion dollars. And here to talk 125 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:17,280 Speaker 1: about that deal, which recently was completed, is John wheel In, 126 00:07:17,400 --> 00:07:20,600 Speaker 1: chief financial officer of en Bridge, which is based in 127 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:24,720 Speaker 1: Calgary in Canada. John, congratulations and completing this deal. And 128 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:28,160 Speaker 1: can you talk a little bit about what and Bridge 129 00:07:28,240 --> 00:07:32,520 Speaker 1: stands to gain from this acquisition. Well, thank you very much, Lisa. 130 00:07:32,640 --> 00:07:36,840 Speaker 1: Um Really, Enbridge, UH, it really is an opportunity to 131 00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:40,880 Speaker 1: extend and diversify our growth program. At the end of 132 00:07:40,880 --> 00:07:44,760 Speaker 1: the day, UH, we have a value proposition that focuses 133 00:07:44,880 --> 00:07:50,520 Speaker 1: on low risk, reliable income generative from energy infrastructure assets. 134 00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:55,160 Speaker 1: Buying a platform, the premier gas distribution and transmission platform 135 00:07:55,880 --> 00:07:58,840 Speaker 1: UH in the US really gives us a big opportunity 136 00:07:58,880 --> 00:08:02,360 Speaker 1: to extend and diverse offy off of that off of 137 00:08:02,400 --> 00:08:06,560 Speaker 1: that platform. So we're now operating in forty states, UH, 138 00:08:06,640 --> 00:08:10,000 Speaker 1: seven provinces in Canada, so we're truly a continental player. 139 00:08:10,560 --> 00:08:13,080 Speaker 1: And John, if you could speak to the issue of 140 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:17,080 Speaker 1: environmental responsibility, how would you address the concerns that have 141 00:08:17,160 --> 00:08:20,120 Speaker 1: been brought about not only for end Bridge, but also 142 00:08:20,160 --> 00:08:24,400 Speaker 1: for the industry of transporting oil and natural gas. Right, Well, 143 00:08:24,440 --> 00:08:26,240 Speaker 1: I think that is an issue for the industry as 144 00:08:26,280 --> 00:08:28,720 Speaker 1: a whole, UH, and it's become a bit of a 145 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:31,440 Speaker 1: focal point. But quite frankly, I think there's never been 146 00:08:31,480 --> 00:08:37,280 Speaker 1: a greater focus on operational reliability operational integrity of our 147 00:08:37,320 --> 00:08:41,360 Speaker 1: systems going forward. UM operations and safety are the number 148 00:08:41,400 --> 00:08:44,839 Speaker 1: one priority of our company, as it is many companies 149 00:08:44,920 --> 00:08:47,880 Speaker 1: in our industry at the end of the day, and 150 00:08:47,920 --> 00:08:52,320 Speaker 1: we work very hard, UH to ensure that all of 151 00:08:52,360 --> 00:08:55,120 Speaker 1: our stakeholders are customers, the communities along our rights of 152 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:58,280 Speaker 1: way and so on, understand the steps that we take 153 00:08:58,760 --> 00:09:03,760 Speaker 1: UH to make the pipes operate reliably and safely. Can 154 00:09:03,760 --> 00:09:06,600 Speaker 1: you talk a little bit, John about the change in 155 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:10,440 Speaker 1: the US administration and how that might affect the US 156 00:09:10,559 --> 00:09:14,360 Speaker 1: bring in Canadian oil or vice versa. Frankly, yeah, well, 157 00:09:14,400 --> 00:09:17,120 Speaker 1: I think I think generally the climate for energy would 158 00:09:17,120 --> 00:09:20,280 Speaker 1: appear to be more positive at the moment in the 159 00:09:20,360 --> 00:09:23,240 Speaker 1: US if the US exporting it, not the other way around. 160 00:09:23,679 --> 00:09:27,040 Speaker 1: Not necessarily, although I think you know, there's a tremendous 161 00:09:27,080 --> 00:09:30,960 Speaker 1: benefit that both countries get from an integrated energy market, 162 00:09:31,760 --> 00:09:36,360 Speaker 1: and we find that really huge cross border trade exists 163 00:09:36,360 --> 00:09:39,440 Speaker 1: in energy, not just self bound from Canada into the US, 164 00:09:39,480 --> 00:09:43,160 Speaker 1: but also from the US up in Canada electricity, natural 165 00:09:43,200 --> 00:09:46,240 Speaker 1: gas and so on, and for many, many years, both 166 00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:50,240 Speaker 1: countries quite frankly, have benefited hugely from that. So our 167 00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:54,200 Speaker 1: initial conversations with administration in the US and others would 168 00:09:54,200 --> 00:09:56,880 Speaker 1: tend to make us think that everybody does understand that, 169 00:09:56,960 --> 00:09:59,600 Speaker 1: But of course we do have to see how rules 170 00:09:59,640 --> 00:10:04,520 Speaker 1: around UH across border taxation and so on play out. John, 171 00:10:04,600 --> 00:10:07,480 Speaker 1: many people are familiar with Keystone XL, they might not 172 00:10:07,559 --> 00:10:11,360 Speaker 1: be familiar with g x L. Tell us about end 173 00:10:11,360 --> 00:10:14,719 Speaker 1: bridges g x L, what it plans to do, and 174 00:10:14,840 --> 00:10:17,439 Speaker 1: maybe you can just allude to some of the challenges 175 00:10:17,480 --> 00:10:20,719 Speaker 1: that you've had putting this together. Well, I think you're 176 00:10:20,720 --> 00:10:24,720 Speaker 1: probably referring to a whole series of low cost capacity 177 00:10:24,800 --> 00:10:28,240 Speaker 1: expansions that we have been looking to build on our system, 178 00:10:28,280 --> 00:10:32,000 Speaker 1: and bridges expanded the system very significantly over the last 179 00:10:32,040 --> 00:10:35,360 Speaker 1: number of years. We're continuing to do that. We have 180 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:38,360 Speaker 1: this is all around the Great Lakes area. It also 181 00:10:38,440 --> 00:10:42,520 Speaker 1: includes expansion to the network in Minnesota, for example. Yeah, right, 182 00:10:42,559 --> 00:10:45,079 Speaker 1: We've got a large project or line through replacement project 183 00:10:45,160 --> 00:10:48,840 Speaker 1: that is currently going through the approval process, so completely 184 00:10:48,840 --> 00:10:52,720 Speaker 1: approved now in Canada and really completely approved in in 185 00:10:52,880 --> 00:10:55,679 Speaker 1: the US, with the exception of Minnesota where we are 186 00:10:55,720 --> 00:10:58,960 Speaker 1: working with the Public Utilities Commission there UH, and that 187 00:10:59,040 --> 00:11:02,319 Speaker 1: process is taking us a little longer than we expected. However, 188 00:11:02,520 --> 00:11:07,480 Speaker 1: our environmental impact statement process is completed, UH, rather not 189 00:11:07,559 --> 00:11:09,480 Speaker 1: completely I shouldn't say that has been fully scoped and 190 00:11:09,600 --> 00:11:11,600 Speaker 1: is in the process of being completed. And so we 191 00:11:11,640 --> 00:11:14,600 Speaker 1: think there's some clarity now with respect to the regulatory 192 00:11:14,960 --> 00:11:18,199 Speaker 1: UH direction and the regulatory process there, and we're moving 193 00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:21,360 Speaker 1: that project along. John uh and Bridge also has a 194 00:11:21,400 --> 00:11:24,360 Speaker 1: big renewable business, including wind farms in Texas and off 195 00:11:24,360 --> 00:11:28,640 Speaker 1: the east coast in North Carolina. Have you projected a 196 00:11:28,800 --> 00:11:31,719 Speaker 1: slower pace of growth in some of those renewable industries 197 00:11:32,000 --> 00:11:36,440 Speaker 1: given the more favorable climate for fossil fuels UM. It 198 00:11:36,520 --> 00:11:40,200 Speaker 1: really depends on jurisdictions. I think different jurisdictions have different 199 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:43,800 Speaker 1: renewable portfolio standards in terms of what they're trying to achieve. 200 00:11:43,840 --> 00:11:46,160 Speaker 1: So there are some places where I know UH. We 201 00:11:46,240 --> 00:11:50,800 Speaker 1: continue to plot forward UM on a number of different projects, 202 00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:53,959 Speaker 1: both here in the US and in Canada and also 203 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:56,600 Speaker 1: in Europe right now, whether it's a significant focus on 204 00:11:56,640 --> 00:11:59,560 Speaker 1: the development of renewable and renewable energy, So it really 205 00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:03,600 Speaker 1: is more of a local consideration primarily for US in 206 00:12:03,679 --> 00:12:06,520 Speaker 1: terms of where the activity is. Can you speak to 207 00:12:06,559 --> 00:12:09,080 Speaker 1: the issue once again, just a pipeline safety, because as 208 00:12:09,120 --> 00:12:11,160 Speaker 1: you build out this network, there's been a lot of 209 00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:15,360 Speaker 1: criticism about spills and potential harm to the environment from 210 00:12:15,400 --> 00:12:18,760 Speaker 1: this pipeline extension. What are you doing differently now than 211 00:12:18,800 --> 00:12:21,720 Speaker 1: you did, let's say ten or fifteen years ago. Well, 212 00:12:21,760 --> 00:12:25,480 Speaker 1: we have put a tremendous amount of UH, both time, 213 00:12:25,520 --> 00:12:30,920 Speaker 1: effort and money into improving and enhancing the integrity of 214 00:12:30,960 --> 00:12:34,200 Speaker 1: our overall systems. Old pipe is being replaced by a 215 00:12:34,200 --> 00:12:37,640 Speaker 1: new pipe. That's what that major project going through Minnesota 216 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:41,920 Speaker 1: is really all about. And we've been working to um 217 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:47,120 Speaker 1: if you will enhance the operational uh the operational integrity 218 00:12:47,200 --> 00:12:50,400 Speaker 1: of the overall system. Safety has always been, but never 219 00:12:50,480 --> 00:12:54,439 Speaker 1: more than now, the number one priority for our our 220 00:12:54,480 --> 00:12:56,760 Speaker 1: operating leaders. All Right, I want to thank you very 221 00:12:56,840 --> 00:13:00,000 Speaker 1: much for joining us. John Wheeland is the Chief Financial Office, 222 00:13:00,040 --> 00:13:15,319 Speaker 1: Sir of en Bridge. The promise and the potential products 223 00:13:15,320 --> 00:13:18,960 Speaker 1: from biotechnology investments here to tell us more as Eli 224 00:13:19,080 --> 00:13:21,800 Speaker 1: has than he's a managing partner of kasid In Capital. 225 00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:24,160 Speaker 1: He joins us in the studio, Eli, thanks for coming 226 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:26,400 Speaker 1: in today. Maybe you could just give people a little 227 00:13:26,480 --> 00:13:30,200 Speaker 1: quick background of kasid In Capital, how you came to 228 00:13:30,280 --> 00:13:33,240 Speaker 1: the business, and then the focus that you're taking. Sure, 229 00:13:33,320 --> 00:13:36,600 Speaker 1: thanks for having me. It's great to be here. UM 230 00:13:36,640 --> 00:13:40,000 Speaker 1: so I launched the kasid In Capital in where life 231 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:44,400 Speaker 1: science technology investment firm. UM We invest primarily and publicly 232 00:13:44,440 --> 00:13:46,640 Speaker 1: traded companies, but when we can't find what we want 233 00:13:46,640 --> 00:13:50,160 Speaker 1: in the public markets, will invest in privates. That said, 234 00:13:50,520 --> 00:13:53,000 Speaker 1: not a venture capitalist by training or disposition, and so 235 00:13:53,040 --> 00:13:55,000 Speaker 1: we hope never to do it. We've done it now 236 00:13:55,040 --> 00:13:58,640 Speaker 1: twenty one times and the fund is organized all around 237 00:13:58,840 --> 00:14:01,959 Speaker 1: this broad identity that the cost curves for analyzing and 238 00:14:02,040 --> 00:14:06,960 Speaker 1: manipulating molecular biology DNA specifically have come down dramatically over 239 00:14:06,960 --> 00:14:10,559 Speaker 1: the last decade, particularly fast in the last five years. 240 00:14:10,600 --> 00:14:14,080 Speaker 1: For a reference, the Human Genome Project, which cost about 241 00:14:14,440 --> 00:14:17,760 Speaker 1: three billion dollars and took thirteen years to do UM 242 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:21,160 Speaker 1: can now be done in a day for a thousand dollars. Well, 243 00:14:21,240 --> 00:14:25,440 Speaker 1: so just from the thirty views. Still, I'm curious how 244 00:14:25,640 --> 00:14:28,560 Speaker 1: your firm deals with smoth of volatility that we've seen 245 00:14:28,840 --> 00:14:34,120 Speaker 1: in biopharmaceutical company shares just based on i mean, tweets 246 00:14:34,200 --> 00:14:37,800 Speaker 1: and and off the cuff commentary by politicians. I mean, 247 00:14:37,840 --> 00:14:41,080 Speaker 1: how do you capture value at a time when kind 248 00:14:41,080 --> 00:14:43,400 Speaker 1: of research could be thrown out the window by by 249 00:14:43,520 --> 00:14:46,360 Speaker 1: you know, a press release. Yeah, we certainly don't try 250 00:14:46,400 --> 00:14:50,720 Speaker 1: to manage volatility. UM. You can't write, you know, if 251 00:14:50,760 --> 00:14:55,400 Speaker 1: if Hillary can tweet and crush the market, Um, there's 252 00:14:55,400 --> 00:14:58,800 Speaker 1: no way to sort of manage through that except to 253 00:14:58,960 --> 00:15:01,520 Speaker 1: know what you own, buy more when it's when it's 254 00:15:01,560 --> 00:15:06,120 Speaker 1: lower UM, and sort of hold on UM and Uh. 255 00:15:06,400 --> 00:15:09,960 Speaker 1: The fundamental reality though, is that these companies, those that 256 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:14,720 Speaker 1: are successful, build products that change people's lives UM and 257 00:15:14,760 --> 00:15:19,120 Speaker 1: that has value. And so you just needed time frame 258 00:15:19,400 --> 00:15:23,120 Speaker 1: to ride out through that volatility. Eli. Uh. One of 259 00:15:23,160 --> 00:15:25,680 Speaker 1: the things I note about your process is that you 260 00:15:25,760 --> 00:15:30,400 Speaker 1: hold information sessions lunches basically in which you invite your 261 00:15:30,440 --> 00:15:33,480 Speaker 1: investors to come in and meet with the actual chief 262 00:15:33,480 --> 00:15:35,720 Speaker 1: executives at some of the companies that you're invested in. 263 00:15:36,080 --> 00:15:38,640 Speaker 1: One example is Sage Therapeutics, and I'm wondering if you 264 00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:41,280 Speaker 1: could use that example to tell us what does SAGE do, 265 00:15:41,400 --> 00:15:43,920 Speaker 1: How did you come to find them? And why you 266 00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:47,080 Speaker 1: do that? Why do you bring the investors literally into 267 00:15:47,160 --> 00:15:51,320 Speaker 1: the business and say here, meet directly with the company. Yeah, no, 268 00:15:51,520 --> 00:15:54,440 Speaker 1: it's UM. I think the reason we do it, and 269 00:15:54,760 --> 00:15:59,160 Speaker 1: I'll start there is that UM largely our investor based 270 00:15:59,200 --> 00:16:03,200 Speaker 1: are successful UH investors in their own right, running large 271 00:16:03,520 --> 00:16:07,200 Speaker 1: private equity funds, hedge funds, not typically in the healthcare space. 272 00:16:07,240 --> 00:16:09,480 Speaker 1: And and what we find is they think that the 273 00:16:09,520 --> 00:16:12,240 Speaker 1: life sciences is sort of pixie ust. You know, that 274 00:16:12,320 --> 00:16:14,400 Speaker 1: you sort of get lucky, you find some kind of 275 00:16:14,720 --> 00:16:17,640 Speaker 1: insight in the lab, and and if you're lucky uh, 276 00:16:17,640 --> 00:16:19,440 Speaker 1: ten percent of the time it turns into something and 277 00:16:19,480 --> 00:16:23,560 Speaker 1: that's worth it. Um Our belief is that actually, UM, 278 00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:26,960 Speaker 1: it's all the execution between the lab and commercial product 279 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:32,160 Speaker 1: done by human beings, real people that determine success. And 280 00:16:32,680 --> 00:16:35,600 Speaker 1: so what we try to do is of our effort 281 00:16:35,680 --> 00:16:39,120 Speaker 1: is find good science and then confirmed that the people 282 00:16:39,160 --> 00:16:43,160 Speaker 1: are really good that can actually deliver UM. So and 283 00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:45,360 Speaker 1: so in that example, we like to bring in these 284 00:16:45,360 --> 00:16:47,640 Speaker 1: c e o s who we think are very impressive 285 00:16:47,640 --> 00:16:50,880 Speaker 1: and built impressive firms and let our investors have at 286 00:16:50,920 --> 00:16:53,400 Speaker 1: them and sort of see, wow, these are really uh, 287 00:16:53,440 --> 00:16:56,040 Speaker 1: these are real businessmen, um. And I would just note 288 00:16:56,080 --> 00:17:00,200 Speaker 1: that the you know, if you take Gilead, Gen's time, 289 00:17:00,360 --> 00:17:05,280 Speaker 1: gene Tech by Geni Deck uh and cell Gene Uh, 290 00:17:06,400 --> 00:17:09,960 Speaker 1: their revenue comes from assets they went out and acquired 291 00:17:09,960 --> 00:17:12,000 Speaker 1: and brought in, which means their internal R and D 292 00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:16,000 Speaker 1: didn't deliver, but their business acumen UH did. And so 293 00:17:16,040 --> 00:17:18,679 Speaker 1: that's what we're trying to find businessmen like that for people. 294 00:17:19,119 --> 00:17:22,359 Speaker 1: I know that you can't wager around policy. It's a 295 00:17:22,480 --> 00:17:26,720 Speaker 1: very tricky and uh potentially unsatisfying area to go at. 296 00:17:27,240 --> 00:17:30,440 Speaker 1: And yet there are some pretty significant changes that could 297 00:17:30,440 --> 00:17:34,520 Speaker 1: be made, whether it's uh forcing US pharmaceutical companies to 298 00:17:34,560 --> 00:17:37,520 Speaker 1: sell biosimilar as in the US, you know, other efforts 299 00:17:37,520 --> 00:17:40,480 Speaker 1: to reduce drug prices. How are you sort of positioned 300 00:17:40,520 --> 00:17:42,240 Speaker 1: around that, and how do you factor in some of 301 00:17:42,240 --> 00:17:46,560 Speaker 1: the drug pricing issues? Yeah, and listen, I think, UM, 302 00:17:46,760 --> 00:17:51,760 Speaker 1: drug pricing is a really uh challenging issue. You know, Historically, 303 00:17:51,960 --> 00:17:54,240 Speaker 1: the mechanism of going from a branded product to a 304 00:17:54,280 --> 00:17:57,960 Speaker 1: generic product, patent lives and the expiration of those those 305 00:17:57,960 --> 00:18:00,560 Speaker 1: patents has been a really effective way to keep drug 306 00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:03,679 Speaker 1: prices in check in the last couple of years UM 307 00:18:03,760 --> 00:18:06,440 Speaker 1: due to due to several factors, some of them actually 308 00:18:06,520 --> 00:18:11,360 Speaker 1: regulatory UM. That transmission mechanism has broken down, fewer generic 309 00:18:12,359 --> 00:18:17,040 Speaker 1: applications being approved UH, fewer manufacturers, and so there's been 310 00:18:17,119 --> 00:18:19,520 Speaker 1: a lack of competition in the generics market, which has 311 00:18:19,560 --> 00:18:22,280 Speaker 1: allowed generic pricing to go up and sort of broken 312 00:18:22,280 --> 00:18:24,440 Speaker 1: that transmission mechanism. So one thing is you've got to 313 00:18:24,480 --> 00:18:27,919 Speaker 1: fix that. The second thing is we invest in companies 314 00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:32,280 Speaker 1: that are developing drugs where the alternative is usually death. 315 00:18:33,200 --> 00:18:35,200 Speaker 1: And so our belief is that if you can develop 316 00:18:35,240 --> 00:18:39,480 Speaker 1: a novel therapy that UH has a huge impact on 317 00:18:39,640 --> 00:18:43,480 Speaker 1: a group of patients, that's worth something UM. And so 318 00:18:43,520 --> 00:18:46,880 Speaker 1: we don't try to look to invest in marginal products 319 00:18:47,160 --> 00:18:49,760 Speaker 1: or me to sort of follow ones. We're really looking 320 00:18:49,920 --> 00:18:53,520 Speaker 1: to invest in true innovation and avoid UH what we 321 00:18:53,560 --> 00:18:58,119 Speaker 1: call manipulators, people taking advantage of inefficiencies to make margin. 322 00:18:58,640 --> 00:19:00,760 Speaker 1: I want to just the tie get back to Sage 323 00:19:00,800 --> 00:19:04,400 Speaker 1: Therapeutic just as an example, because Jeff Jonas, the chief 324 00:19:04,440 --> 00:19:07,800 Speaker 1: executive of the company, had many other roles previous to 325 00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:10,520 Speaker 1: being the chief executive of Sage. This is a company 326 00:19:10,560 --> 00:19:14,439 Speaker 1: that's working on central nervous system UH drugs. How did 327 00:19:14,520 --> 00:19:19,360 Speaker 1: you come to connect with Jeff Jonas and Sage? Um. 328 00:19:19,400 --> 00:19:23,040 Speaker 1: You know, we're looking for great companies, As I said, 329 00:19:23,080 --> 00:19:27,199 Speaker 1: great managers, pursuing novel biology and then developing it in 330 00:19:27,280 --> 00:19:31,879 Speaker 1: a process that yields very early results of whether a 331 00:19:31,960 --> 00:19:35,359 Speaker 1: go no god decision. The challenge for developing drugs is 332 00:19:35,400 --> 00:19:41,080 Speaker 1: that historically the the outcome has been all focused on 333 00:19:41,119 --> 00:19:43,919 Speaker 1: the phase three where it's the most expensive component and 334 00:19:43,960 --> 00:19:47,520 Speaker 1: you're sort of playing roulette until you get there. Um. 335 00:19:47,960 --> 00:19:50,720 Speaker 1: Jeff is has stepped into Sage, has had some amazing 336 00:19:50,760 --> 00:19:55,760 Speaker 1: science around the CNS particular sort of UH receptor thesis, 337 00:19:55,920 --> 00:19:59,959 Speaker 1: and then has developed very UH specific UH small molecule 338 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:02,480 Speaker 1: US to target it, and then has a very novel 339 00:20:02,560 --> 00:20:05,240 Speaker 1: way to get early proof of principle so that when 340 00:20:05,240 --> 00:20:08,840 Speaker 1: you go into a phase one to phase phase two three, 341 00:20:08,960 --> 00:20:11,479 Speaker 1: you you have a lot of confidence and you get 342 00:20:11,520 --> 00:20:14,800 Speaker 1: a very definitive result. What are the top picks that 343 00:20:14,840 --> 00:20:18,840 Speaker 1: you would say are undervalued right now? Oh? Gosh, UM, 344 00:20:18,960 --> 00:20:21,240 Speaker 1: I don't know every You know everything in our portfolio, 345 00:20:21,240 --> 00:20:27,520 Speaker 1: and um, everything everything, and I think everyone should know. Um. Listen, 346 00:20:27,560 --> 00:20:30,840 Speaker 1: we think about the unit of the healthcare continuum moving 347 00:20:30,880 --> 00:20:35,200 Speaker 1: from life science tools to applications of those tools and diagnostics, 348 00:20:35,520 --> 00:20:39,440 Speaker 1: to application of those diagnostics into drug development, ultimately leading 349 00:20:39,440 --> 00:20:43,120 Speaker 1: into industrial biotech. Are are feeling on the diagnostic spaces. 350 00:20:43,200 --> 00:20:47,080 Speaker 1: This is a relatively when we when we start investing 351 00:20:47,080 --> 00:20:51,480 Speaker 1: in the diagnostic space, reimbursement was terrible. It's now become horrendous. 352 00:20:52,119 --> 00:20:56,199 Speaker 1: But one company is surviving Foundation Medicine because they have 353 00:20:56,240 --> 00:20:58,680 Speaker 1: the support of roche Um, and so we think that 354 00:20:58,680 --> 00:21:01,879 Speaker 1: that company and it's with their diagnostics, has a lot 355 00:21:01,920 --> 00:21:07,240 Speaker 1: of potential Foundation Medicine found Eli Hasten, thank you so 356 00:21:07,320 --> 00:21:10,440 Speaker 1: much for joining us. Eli Hastens, managing partner of Kasdanic Capital, 357 00:21:10,480 --> 00:21:15,119 Speaker 1: focusing on the biotech sector, drug pricing, everything under the 358 00:21:15,320 --> 00:21:32,120 Speaker 1: biopharmaceutical son Now let's turn our attention to some business 359 00:21:32,160 --> 00:21:36,080 Speaker 1: news and bonds and bringing Brian to Patta because Brian 360 00:21:36,080 --> 00:21:39,160 Speaker 1: has written a story that I think is worth everybody 361 00:21:39,160 --> 00:21:43,280 Speaker 1: paying attention to. This has to do with foreign investors 362 00:21:43,720 --> 00:21:47,960 Speaker 1: not necessarily loving US treasuries as much as they have 363 00:21:48,080 --> 00:21:51,040 Speaker 1: in the past, and that could be a potential problem. 364 00:21:51,200 --> 00:21:53,280 Speaker 1: Let's find out more. Brian, thanks very much for coming 365 00:21:53,280 --> 00:21:56,440 Speaker 1: in and your patients tell us about this idea that 366 00:21:56,680 --> 00:22:00,320 Speaker 1: you've got negative or you had negative yielding sovereign debt 367 00:22:00,400 --> 00:22:05,440 Speaker 1: places like Germany, for example, But that's now positive yielding debt, 368 00:22:05,880 --> 00:22:09,840 Speaker 1: and as a result, the lure of US treasuries might 369 00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:13,399 Speaker 1: not be so intense, right exactly. Um, there are still 370 00:22:13,440 --> 00:22:16,200 Speaker 1: negative yielding bonds out there, but the stack has gone 371 00:22:16,200 --> 00:22:19,479 Speaker 1: down by about three trillion dollars worth. UM. So all 372 00:22:19,520 --> 00:22:21,560 Speaker 1: of a sudden, you know, you have these investors that 373 00:22:21,600 --> 00:22:24,040 Speaker 1: we're looking at negative yielding bonds, which you know, even 374 00:22:24,080 --> 00:22:27,320 Speaker 1: just a few years ago was borderline absurd. I mean, 375 00:22:27,320 --> 00:22:31,320 Speaker 1: why would you pay for the privilege of owning a security, um, 376 00:22:31,359 --> 00:22:33,080 Speaker 1: all of a sudden because the government told you to 377 00:22:33,240 --> 00:22:35,280 Speaker 1: in one way or another. You gotta hold something very 378 00:22:35,320 --> 00:22:38,280 Speaker 1: secure if you're a bank, right because of the central banks. 379 00:22:38,280 --> 00:22:40,920 Speaker 1: But um, essentially, now what's happening is more of those 380 00:22:40,960 --> 00:22:43,160 Speaker 1: are turning into positive yields. And so all that money 381 00:22:43,160 --> 00:22:46,439 Speaker 1: that was flooding into US treasuries because it was basically 382 00:22:46,520 --> 00:22:49,879 Speaker 1: the only positive yielding option available, all of a sudden, 383 00:22:49,880 --> 00:22:51,960 Speaker 1: you know, maybe those baskets are full and they say, 384 00:22:51,960 --> 00:22:53,960 Speaker 1: you know, maybe now is the time to to buy 385 00:22:54,040 --> 00:22:57,359 Speaker 1: some buns or buy some French debt. For example, Brian, 386 00:22:57,760 --> 00:23:00,880 Speaker 1: really fascinating story. You highlight have four owners currently owned 387 00:23:02,200 --> 00:23:05,280 Speaker 1: of the nearly fourteen trillion dollars of US treasuries outstanding. 388 00:23:05,320 --> 00:23:08,960 Speaker 1: So this is why, uh, this dynamic is so important. 389 00:23:09,080 --> 00:23:12,560 Speaker 1: Have we already seen signs of foreigners backing away from 390 00:23:12,600 --> 00:23:17,560 Speaker 1: the US market to go into boon's or yet denominated bonds. Yeah, 391 00:23:17,640 --> 00:23:22,120 Speaker 1: we've definitely seen some of that, especially the latest Japan 392 00:23:22,200 --> 00:23:25,440 Speaker 1: data showed that there was another month of NETS selling 393 00:23:25,920 --> 00:23:29,800 Speaker 1: UH in February, So that's now four straight months basically 394 00:23:30,160 --> 00:23:32,480 Speaker 1: ever since November, when you know, the losses were really 395 00:23:32,520 --> 00:23:35,280 Speaker 1: severe on on treasuries with the Trump win and the 396 00:23:35,320 --> 00:23:39,199 Speaker 1: reflation bets UM, So there has been some selling. And 397 00:23:39,240 --> 00:23:41,399 Speaker 1: the question going forward is going to be is that 398 00:23:41,480 --> 00:23:43,320 Speaker 1: going to flip eventually? You know, what's going to be 399 00:23:43,320 --> 00:23:46,720 Speaker 1: that trigger? Or is the prospect of you know, higher 400 00:23:46,800 --> 00:23:49,640 Speaker 1: rates everywhere gonna you know, scare them off still well? 401 00:23:49,680 --> 00:23:52,159 Speaker 1: And what differential people tolerate? I mean, I'm looking at 402 00:23:52,200 --> 00:23:54,600 Speaker 1: at a thirty year yield that still is relatively low, 403 00:23:54,680 --> 00:23:58,200 Speaker 1: has not increased substantially this year, so you have to wonder, 404 00:23:58,359 --> 00:24:01,000 Speaker 1: you know, where are we seeing is uh sort of 405 00:24:01,040 --> 00:24:05,639 Speaker 1: around the edges departure by foreign investors. Yeah, I mean definitely, 406 00:24:05,680 --> 00:24:09,439 Speaker 1: Yields are still very low by by all metrics, and 407 00:24:09,480 --> 00:24:11,480 Speaker 1: I think the question going forward is going to be, 408 00:24:11,680 --> 00:24:14,199 Speaker 1: you know, you talk about differentials, I mean, where is 409 00:24:14,520 --> 00:24:17,520 Speaker 1: you know, our yields really going to increase the most? 410 00:24:17,520 --> 00:24:19,600 Speaker 1: I mean most people are still calling for higher yields. 411 00:24:19,960 --> 00:24:21,960 Speaker 1: You look at French bonds for example, and you've seen 412 00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:26,840 Speaker 1: those really yields climb on you know, geopolitical election risks, 413 00:24:26,920 --> 00:24:29,560 Speaker 1: things like that. Um, but I mean people are trying 414 00:24:29,560 --> 00:24:31,800 Speaker 1: to figure out exactly where to go. I mean I 415 00:24:31,840 --> 00:24:34,240 Speaker 1: was talking with the Japanese data and they were huge 416 00:24:34,240 --> 00:24:38,000 Speaker 1: sellers of French bonds lately. Uh, you know, they don't 417 00:24:38,040 --> 00:24:40,359 Speaker 1: like losses, and you know, no one in bonds do. 418 00:24:40,520 --> 00:24:43,960 Speaker 1: I mean, I think Cathy Jones from Charles Schwab summed 419 00:24:43,960 --> 00:24:47,639 Speaker 1: it up greatly that it's the bastion of skepticism and 420 00:24:47,720 --> 00:24:49,359 Speaker 1: you know they don't like to look at losses. So 421 00:24:50,119 --> 00:24:52,720 Speaker 1: where we get some positive return is going to be 422 00:24:52,720 --> 00:24:54,760 Speaker 1: the big question. In the months I had, well, you 423 00:24:54,840 --> 00:24:57,159 Speaker 1: still got a lot of bids underneath the U S. 424 00:24:57,200 --> 00:24:59,520 Speaker 1: Treasury market. Because I'm looking right now with the thirty 425 00:24:59,600 --> 00:25:02,560 Speaker 1: year it's hands at two point nine, we are up 426 00:25:02,560 --> 00:25:06,879 Speaker 1: fifteen thirty seconds, so there's a bid throughout the yield 427 00:25:06,880 --> 00:25:09,720 Speaker 1: curve all the way down to the six month bill. Yep. 428 00:25:09,800 --> 00:25:12,320 Speaker 1: Then we got the three year auction coming up at 429 00:25:12,320 --> 00:25:14,960 Speaker 1: one pm Eastern, so that's going to be another sign 430 00:25:15,000 --> 00:25:17,760 Speaker 1: of whether there's really demand out there for for US 431 00:25:17,800 --> 00:25:20,240 Speaker 1: treasuries going forward. Branch Potter, thank you so much for 432 00:25:20,320 --> 00:25:23,600 Speaker 1: joining us. Truly fascinating story and important topic, UH to 433 00:25:23,680 --> 00:25:26,159 Speaker 1: look at. Important the foreign dynamic with respect to the 434 00:25:26,240 --> 00:25:28,560 Speaker 1: US treasury market, how much it has fueled gains in 435 00:25:28,600 --> 00:25:31,440 Speaker 1: this market, and how much it could end up causing 436 00:25:31,480 --> 00:25:33,840 Speaker 1: some of the losses if there is some kind of exodus. 437 00:25:33,840 --> 00:25:43,399 Speaker 1: Branch pot as US Treasury reporter for Bloomberg. Thanks for 438 00:25:43,480 --> 00:25:46,120 Speaker 1: listening to the Bloomberg P and L podcast. You can 439 00:25:46,160 --> 00:25:50,560 Speaker 1: subscribe and listen to interviews at iTunes, SoundCloud, or whatever 440 00:25:50,880 --> 00:25:54,360 Speaker 1: podcast platform you prefer. I'm pim Fox. I'm out there 441 00:25:54,400 --> 00:25:57,439 Speaker 1: on Twitter at pim Fox. I'm out there on Twitter 442 00:25:57,560 --> 00:26:00,520 Speaker 1: at Lisa Abramo. It's one before the podcast. You can 443 00:26:00,560 --> 00:26:11,399 Speaker 1: always catch us worldwide on Bloomberg Radio m HM