1 00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:08,720 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Bloomberg p m L Podcast. I'm pim Fox. 2 00:00:08,760 --> 00:00:11,520 Speaker 1: Along with my co host Lisa Bramowitz. Each day we 3 00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:15,120 Speaker 1: bring you the most important, noteworthy, and useful interviews for 4 00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:17,840 Speaker 1: you and your money, whether you're at the grocery store 5 00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:20,720 Speaker 1: or the trading floor. Find the Bloomberg p m L 6 00:00:20,840 --> 00:00:32,199 Speaker 1: Podcast on Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, and Bloomberg dot Com. Like 7 00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:35,280 Speaker 1: we always do at this time of the day on Fridays, 8 00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:37,680 Speaker 1: we are very lucky to have with us Joe Maisak, 9 00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:40,400 Speaker 1: editor of the Bloomberg Brief that focuses on the municipop 10 00:00:40,440 --> 00:00:43,479 Speaker 1: blom market uh and he is of course here in 11 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:46,479 Speaker 1: our Bloomberg eleven three oh studios. Joe, we have to 12 00:00:46,560 --> 00:00:49,560 Speaker 1: start with Puerto Rico for a lot of reasons. First 13 00:00:49,560 --> 00:00:53,360 Speaker 1: of all, the disaster that is the aftermath of Hurricane 14 00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:55,760 Speaker 1: Maria is ongoing, and there are still a lot of 15 00:00:55,840 --> 00:00:58,000 Speaker 1: questions about how the island will get the aid it 16 00:00:58,120 --> 00:01:02,200 Speaker 1: needs to even begin to get people potable water and 17 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:05,360 Speaker 1: the electricity. On little loan rebuild, I want to start 18 00:01:05,360 --> 00:01:09,360 Speaker 1: the bondholders took this week as an opportunity to an 19 00:01:09,520 --> 00:01:13,600 Speaker 1: extent or offer a one billion dollar dip loan right 20 00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:15,560 Speaker 1: This is basically a debtors and possession. It's basically a 21 00:01:15,560 --> 00:01:19,840 Speaker 1: bankruptcy tool, financing tool. They offered to give Puerto Rico 22 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:24,320 Speaker 1: a one billion dollar loan in return for a deal 23 00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:26,760 Speaker 1: that they had proposed previously. Basically, they're going to be 24 00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:29,760 Speaker 1: first in line to get repaid. Can you give us 25 00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:32,280 Speaker 1: a sense of what your take on this offer was, Well, 26 00:01:32,319 --> 00:01:37,480 Speaker 1: you gotta hand it to him. Uh, this is what 27 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:43,679 Speaker 1: some creditors do. They have a very sharp elbowed bunch 28 00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:47,880 Speaker 1: and they want to get everybody out of the way. Um. 29 00:01:47,920 --> 00:01:50,000 Speaker 1: But I'll tell you what we're looking at now. You know, 30 00:01:50,360 --> 00:01:54,160 Speaker 1: before this, we were looking at the at the best bonds, 31 00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:59,080 Speaker 1: the most highly secured bonds, at recoveries of between and 32 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:01,920 Speaker 1: it's in the dollar you're talking about these, the Puerto 33 00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:05,240 Speaker 1: Rico Electric Power Authority bonds, right Rico Guos, Puerto Rico 34 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 1: Electric Power Authority bonds, Cofina's sales tax the best of 35 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:13,840 Speaker 1: the bunch we were talking about, you know, pretty those 36 00:02:13,919 --> 00:02:19,080 Speaker 1: kind of of recoveries. And with the storm. Uh. Ted 37 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 1: Hampton did a report this week of Moody's and uh, 38 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:24,280 Speaker 1: you know, he said, well, it could very well be 39 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:28,400 Speaker 1: that you're gonna the storm's impact will have an impact 40 00:02:28,480 --> 00:02:31,120 Speaker 1: on those recoveries even less. So you're not going to 41 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:36,080 Speaker 1: have fifteen cent uh haircuts like the this this Loan 42 00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:40,840 Speaker 1: programs was positing, you know. I just want to mention 43 00:02:40,880 --> 00:02:42,919 Speaker 1: also to all of our listeners that we are awaiting 44 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:46,000 Speaker 1: comments from President Donald Trump. He will be pushing for 45 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:49,280 Speaker 1: his tax reform proposal in giving a speech in front 46 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:52,239 Speaker 1: of the National Association of Manufacturers in Washington, d C. 47 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:55,440 Speaker 1: We will bring you, of course, the important highlights. Uh. 48 00:02:55,600 --> 00:02:56,960 Speaker 1: You know, Joe, one of the things I want to 49 00:02:56,960 --> 00:02:59,320 Speaker 1: ask you about has to do with the bankruptcy because 50 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:02,960 Speaker 1: I understand that the Title three bankruptcy case, there's an 51 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:06,760 Speaker 1: omnibus hearing that was originally scheduled, and it was scheduled, 52 00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:12,160 Speaker 1: I believe for like yesterday, but uh, District U S. 53 00:03:12,200 --> 00:03:15,360 Speaker 1: District Court judge in the Southern District of New York, 54 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:21,480 Speaker 1: Laura Taylor swain Um indefinitely postponed the hearing. Is that 55 00:03:21,520 --> 00:03:26,040 Speaker 1: going to affect any of the reconstruction or indeed any 56 00:03:26,040 --> 00:03:29,120 Speaker 1: of the financial issues that Puerto Rico is facing. I 57 00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:33,440 Speaker 1: think that was a a sort of postponement out of 58 00:03:33,840 --> 00:03:37,920 Speaker 1: almost good taste, you know, with such devastation on the 59 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:41,120 Speaker 1: island and the rescue taking place a few weeks here 60 00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:44,240 Speaker 1: and there are really going to that's not going to 61 00:03:44,320 --> 00:03:47,600 Speaker 1: have much of an impact, Joe. My sense is, given 62 00:03:47,640 --> 00:03:50,000 Speaker 1: the fact that there are so many problems even distributing 63 00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:54,720 Speaker 1: goods to people in Puerto Rico from the ports, my 64 00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:57,160 Speaker 1: sense is that the government is kind of a disarray, 65 00:03:57,240 --> 00:03:59,720 Speaker 1: just trying to get their handle around the problem. When 66 00:03:59,720 --> 00:04:02,240 Speaker 1: do you think that they will be more together and 67 00:04:02,360 --> 00:04:06,720 Speaker 1: able to tackle both the island's financial issues as well 68 00:04:06,760 --> 00:04:12,320 Speaker 1: as the debt negotiations once again, well, the debt negotiations 69 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:16,440 Speaker 1: were probably talking, you know, well into October before we 70 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:21,799 Speaker 1: sit down again and start, you know, hashing that out. Um. 71 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:25,719 Speaker 1: But as far as the reconstruction of the island is going, 72 00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:29,360 Speaker 1: there are a lot of people who have been sent 73 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:34,560 Speaker 1: to the island. There's a lot of material already there 74 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:38,400 Speaker 1: that hasn't been unloaded. And I thought, gosh, there was 75 00:04:38,440 --> 00:04:41,400 Speaker 1: a story this week and it said they were having 76 00:04:41,800 --> 00:04:45,760 Speaker 1: difficulties delivering a lot of the material it's been sent 77 00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:50,239 Speaker 1: because there was a lack of drivers. And I haven't 78 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:55,200 Speaker 1: heard or seen any estimates of how many people left 79 00:04:55,279 --> 00:04:59,239 Speaker 1: the island before the storm or with the storm, and 80 00:04:59,839 --> 00:05:02,800 Speaker 1: I I would suspect it's quite a lot, because they said, 81 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:05,440 Speaker 1: you know, if we were having a problem just finding 82 00:05:05,520 --> 00:05:10,000 Speaker 1: drivers to you know, deliver the stuff. Joe, can I 83 00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:12,240 Speaker 1: just follow up though on this the legal proceedings for 84 00:05:12,279 --> 00:05:15,880 Speaker 1: just a second, because the President of the Puerto Rico 85 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:20,640 Speaker 1: House asked the Oversight Board to suspend all legal proceedings 86 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:22,919 Speaker 1: against the Puerto Rican government. And there's even been a 87 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:27,000 Speaker 1: proposal that maybe they should just stop enforcing the plans 88 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:29,760 Speaker 1: measures for at least a year, maybe even over the 89 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:33,440 Speaker 1: next five years. Is that likely? I would find that 90 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:39,479 Speaker 1: extremely unlikely. Uh. The the the road to recovery is going 91 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:45,760 Speaker 1: um is going to um uh be paved, if you will, 92 00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:51,680 Speaker 1: with the financial plan. And yeah, but why wouldn't they 93 00:05:51,680 --> 00:05:54,120 Speaker 1: Why wouldn't they grant them? Why wouldn't they grant them 94 00:05:54,120 --> 00:05:57,160 Speaker 1: a postponement? You've got a situation whereas you just described, 95 00:05:57,440 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 1: no one even really knows the extent of the damage, 96 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:03,719 Speaker 1: accept that it is catastrophic. Why wouldn't there be a 97 00:06:03,800 --> 00:06:07,440 Speaker 1: sympathetic ear to the postponement of an austerity plan at 98 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:11,080 Speaker 1: a time when the island Commonwealth is trying to rebuild. Well, 99 00:06:11,480 --> 00:06:16,480 Speaker 1: you know, they the Island is getting assistance right now. 100 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:21,400 Speaker 1: So it's not as though getting a recovery plan in place, 101 00:06:21,480 --> 00:06:24,240 Speaker 1: which is what the board is trying to do, is 102 00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:40,000 Speaker 1: going to somehow handicap them. All Right, let's turn our 103 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:43,800 Speaker 1: attention now to education. Everyone wants it and particularly in 104 00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:46,560 Speaker 1: developing nations and in China. And here to help us 105 00:06:46,600 --> 00:06:48,920 Speaker 1: understand more about it. As Pingway, he is the chief 106 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:53,880 Speaker 1: financial officer of r y B Education and he's going 107 00:06:53,920 --> 00:06:55,640 Speaker 1: to tell us a little bit about the company's initial 108 00:06:55,640 --> 00:07:00,960 Speaker 1: public offering. It The priced the on September seventh, on yesterday, Uh, 109 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:03,400 Speaker 1: I beg your pardon on Wednesday paying thank you very 110 00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:07,080 Speaker 1: much for being with us, Thanks for having me great. 111 00:07:07,520 --> 00:07:09,800 Speaker 1: You know, could you just describe for us to demand 112 00:07:09,840 --> 00:07:13,120 Speaker 1: because people may not understand the demand and the perceived 113 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:17,200 Speaker 1: necessity of getting a great education and scoring well on 114 00:07:17,400 --> 00:07:23,200 Speaker 1: tests in China? Will Chinese traditionally really emphasis a lot 115 00:07:23,240 --> 00:07:26,360 Speaker 1: of education and thanks to that, I think that, you know, 116 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:30,840 Speaker 1: we as long as we can get the high quality education, 117 00:07:30,880 --> 00:07:36,239 Speaker 1: we grab those and our IB Education is an early 118 00:07:36,280 --> 00:07:40,960 Speaker 1: chryhood education company based in China. We provide actually training 119 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:44,960 Speaker 1: for children aging six months to six years old through 120 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:49,200 Speaker 1: our pennor centers, and then we provide kindergarten and preschool 121 00:07:49,320 --> 00:07:52,280 Speaker 1: services to children from two years to six years old. 122 00:07:52,840 --> 00:07:57,680 Speaker 1: And uh, you know, kindergarten in preschool is a neceaturday worldwide, 123 00:07:57,760 --> 00:08:01,280 Speaker 1: not just in China, but China particularly so for private 124 00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:05,680 Speaker 1: sector because we don't have a sufficient public infrastructure unlike 125 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:09,080 Speaker 1: that in the US. So in China about half of 126 00:08:09,160 --> 00:08:13,320 Speaker 1: all kindergarten and preschool services are actually private owned. Um 127 00:08:13,400 --> 00:08:16,120 Speaker 1: Our I b A is the largest or largest well 128 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:19,760 Speaker 1: in terms of revenue both on our PLC business to 129 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:25,240 Speaker 1: Plan Learn Center business and our kindergarten side. Um so 130 00:08:25,800 --> 00:08:28,640 Speaker 1: in terms of why it's a necessity our guests and 131 00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:34,400 Speaker 1: the infrastructure aside, and the demand for high quality education side. 132 00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:37,040 Speaker 1: I think there's another thing that is, you know, with 133 00:08:37,120 --> 00:08:40,240 Speaker 1: the abolition of their one child policy in China, the 134 00:08:40,360 --> 00:08:44,840 Speaker 1: birth rate has increased quite significantly. Give you some numbers. 135 00:08:44,960 --> 00:08:48,320 Speaker 1: In twenty fifteen, there were about the sixteen point six 136 00:08:48,360 --> 00:08:52,640 Speaker 1: million kids born in China. By twenty sixteen, the first 137 00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:56,920 Speaker 1: year after the two children policy was adopted, the birthday 138 00:08:57,040 --> 00:09:00,600 Speaker 1: went up to seventeen point nine million kids in the year. 139 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:04,320 Speaker 1: And there's another number that points to an even higher 140 00:09:04,400 --> 00:09:06,720 Speaker 1: number of eighteen points six men, and with so many 141 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:10,840 Speaker 1: children born, the need for childhoods for early childhood education 142 00:09:10,960 --> 00:09:14,839 Speaker 1: also increased quite dramatically. Yeah, um, you know, pain, it 143 00:09:14,960 --> 00:09:17,840 Speaker 1: strucks me. It strikes me as interesting that you chose 144 00:09:17,880 --> 00:09:20,600 Speaker 1: to do initial public offering in the United States. There's 145 00:09:20,640 --> 00:09:23,520 Speaker 1: been a lot of questions about why there haven't been 146 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:26,480 Speaker 1: more I p O s in the US. What drew 147 00:09:26,520 --> 00:09:30,840 Speaker 1: you to this market to raise money? Yeah, Well, in fact, 148 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:33,200 Speaker 1: if you look to the U S side, there are 149 00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:37,280 Speaker 1: a few pretty good Chinese names here, New Oriental Tel 150 00:09:37,520 --> 00:09:41,720 Speaker 1: Education both are sort of really high quality education companies 151 00:09:42,200 --> 00:09:45,080 Speaker 1: from China. We really like the US market in a 152 00:09:45,120 --> 00:09:49,199 Speaker 1: few reasons. One, it's the the US market investors are 153 00:09:49,520 --> 00:09:52,600 Speaker 1: so always sophisticated and well educated. Too, is the U 154 00:09:52,720 --> 00:09:55,880 Speaker 1: S market has very um sort of a clear and 155 00:09:55,960 --> 00:10:00,840 Speaker 1: transparent rules and which creates a sort of a level 156 00:10:01,040 --> 00:10:04,120 Speaker 1: place there for all companies, so companies only need to 157 00:10:04,160 --> 00:10:07,040 Speaker 1: focus on doing the right things for shareholders in creating 158 00:10:07,080 --> 00:10:10,000 Speaker 1: value and not having to worry too much about other things. 159 00:10:10,080 --> 00:10:13,960 Speaker 1: And thirdly, it's actually a good branding and good sort 160 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:18,960 Speaker 1: of an uh self governance per se for Chinese companies. 161 00:10:19,600 --> 00:10:23,360 Speaker 1: UH like. First of all branding side being able to 162 00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:26,760 Speaker 1: listen in the US and sort of also a good 163 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:32,760 Speaker 1: US public market or capital market sort of uh, citizens 164 00:10:33,400 --> 00:10:36,280 Speaker 1: is uh sort of endorsement of the quality of the 165 00:10:36,280 --> 00:10:41,160 Speaker 1: company itself. And secondly, the sun stocks they act, you know, 166 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:45,240 Speaker 1: while it's a kind of cumbersome and then uh sort 167 00:10:45,280 --> 00:10:47,680 Speaker 1: of a lot of work, it's actually a good way 168 00:10:47,720 --> 00:10:51,320 Speaker 1: to force company to have good governance, and those good 169 00:10:51,360 --> 00:10:54,400 Speaker 1: governors actually help company avoid a lot of sort of 170 00:10:54,440 --> 00:10:58,000 Speaker 1: system risk operation wide. Every company has this opting ups 171 00:10:58,080 --> 00:11:01,640 Speaker 1: and downs. But the good God and is actually steals 172 00:11:01,640 --> 00:11:05,199 Speaker 1: a company in right direction. That's what we believe. Pingwait, 173 00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:07,440 Speaker 1: thank you so much for joining us. Pingway is a 174 00:11:07,520 --> 00:11:13,199 Speaker 1: chief financial officer for r y B Education based in Beijing. Uh. 175 00:11:13,240 --> 00:11:16,760 Speaker 1: This week, it priced an initial public offering in the 176 00:11:16,840 --> 00:11:19,960 Speaker 1: US New York Stock Exchange, raising a hundred and forty 177 00:11:20,040 --> 00:11:37,160 Speaker 1: four point three million dollars. We are awaiting President Donald Trump. 178 00:11:37,200 --> 00:11:39,880 Speaker 1: He is going to be speaking before the National Association 179 00:11:39,880 --> 00:11:42,960 Speaker 1: and Manufacturers in Washington, d C. Of course, his topic 180 00:11:43,040 --> 00:11:46,160 Speaker 1: is going to be his tax reform proposal. We'll, of 181 00:11:46,200 --> 00:11:49,040 Speaker 1: course bring that to you as soon as it begins. 182 00:11:49,480 --> 00:11:54,120 Speaker 1: Let's turn our attention now to combining two distinct groups billionaires, 183 00:11:54,120 --> 00:11:57,240 Speaker 1: people with lots of money of course, and uh, there 184 00:11:57,280 --> 00:12:02,480 Speaker 1: are companies as well as how to initiate strategic relationships 185 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:06,080 Speaker 1: with other businesses with startups for example. And here to 186 00:12:06,120 --> 00:12:10,760 Speaker 1: help us understand this particular situation is Dmitri our Geropolis. 187 00:12:10,760 --> 00:12:13,360 Speaker 1: He is the founder and the chief executive of event 188 00:12:13,559 --> 00:12:16,800 Speaker 1: Global and he joins us in our eleven three oh studios. Dmitri, 189 00:12:16,840 --> 00:12:18,840 Speaker 1: thank you very much for being here. Tell people about 190 00:12:18,920 --> 00:12:22,000 Speaker 1: event Global what what is its purpose? You know, we 191 00:12:22,080 --> 00:12:28,280 Speaker 1: take we take the best opportunities, uh, and we marry 192 00:12:28,320 --> 00:12:32,240 Speaker 1: them with the best network that we have the you know, 193 00:12:32,280 --> 00:12:35,760 Speaker 1: whether it's a startup or a very established company, our 194 00:12:35,800 --> 00:12:38,640 Speaker 1: goal is really singular. We know how to put the 195 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:41,280 Speaker 1: right people together. What's the criteria? I mean because frankly, 196 00:12:41,320 --> 00:12:43,280 Speaker 1: I mean everybody says we're only going to give you 197 00:12:43,320 --> 00:12:45,040 Speaker 1: the best investments, and we're only going to get you 198 00:12:45,080 --> 00:12:47,360 Speaker 1: the best investors. I mean, no one wants second place. 199 00:12:47,840 --> 00:12:49,640 Speaker 1: How do you do this? Can you give us an example? 200 00:12:49,679 --> 00:12:55,840 Speaker 1: People don't understand how to build relationships, Uh that often 201 00:12:56,160 --> 00:12:58,080 Speaker 1: as well as we do. That's all we've done for 202 00:12:58,120 --> 00:13:03,320 Speaker 1: twenty years. We really we we build tremendous value by 203 00:13:03,400 --> 00:13:09,360 Speaker 1: under identifying the inefficiencies in business and marrying the right people. 204 00:13:09,440 --> 00:13:13,520 Speaker 1: But can you give us an example. So so for example, 205 00:13:13,760 --> 00:13:19,120 Speaker 1: we you know, we recently identified a very UM unique 206 00:13:19,440 --> 00:13:23,880 Speaker 1: UM consumer product in the Mediterranean and we locked up 207 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:30,240 Speaker 1: that UM that agreement. We we got exclusivity on the product. 208 00:13:30,320 --> 00:13:32,840 Speaker 1: We partnered up with the right distiller, We partnered up 209 00:13:32,840 --> 00:13:36,080 Speaker 1: with the right distributor, and then we got the you know, 210 00:13:36,120 --> 00:13:38,480 Speaker 1: one of the biggest spirits families in the world to 211 00:13:38,640 --> 00:13:41,599 Speaker 1: back the deal. And we created a tremendous amount of 212 00:13:41,640 --> 00:13:44,400 Speaker 1: value by by putting all those pieces together. We did 213 00:13:44,400 --> 00:13:48,199 Speaker 1: it with the largest UM cookie company in Germany and 214 00:13:48,280 --> 00:13:51,120 Speaker 1: partnered with the largest co packer on the West Coast 215 00:13:51,400 --> 00:13:54,920 Speaker 1: and created an organic cookie brand UM you know in 216 00:13:55,720 --> 00:14:01,000 Speaker 1: one evening that's now launching UM with mass of distribution 217 00:14:01,080 --> 00:14:05,760 Speaker 1: because the co packer has distribution in every major supermarket 218 00:14:05,760 --> 00:14:09,920 Speaker 1: in America and the manufacturer doesn't have access to it, 219 00:14:09,960 --> 00:14:12,800 Speaker 1: but he has one of the biggest factories in Europe 220 00:14:13,160 --> 00:14:15,319 Speaker 1: and has created a very unique product that the market 221 00:14:15,360 --> 00:14:18,600 Speaker 1: hasn't seen. Dmitri, it sounds like you're a sorcerer. It's 222 00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:21,400 Speaker 1: sort of the job of that used to be in 223 00:14:21,480 --> 00:14:24,000 Speaker 1: banks and has moved increasingly to private equity firms and 224 00:14:24,080 --> 00:14:27,080 Speaker 1: hedge funds of going out and finding opportunities that are 225 00:14:27,120 --> 00:14:30,200 Speaker 1: off the grid and that may be smaller than the 226 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:33,440 Speaker 1: ones that are financed in public markets. Is that correct? Correct? 227 00:14:33,720 --> 00:14:36,320 Speaker 1: So what how do you go about? What's your process 228 00:14:36,440 --> 00:14:40,640 Speaker 1: of trying to identify these opportunities other than just you know, 229 00:14:40,720 --> 00:14:43,800 Speaker 1: hanging out and what people say. I think it's it's 230 00:14:43,840 --> 00:14:46,240 Speaker 1: so important. You have to have value propositions that are 231 00:14:46,240 --> 00:14:49,120 Speaker 1: equal or greater on both sides. If if if the 232 00:14:49,160 --> 00:14:52,600 Speaker 1: person like the cookie guy the cookie factory didn't have 233 00:14:52,720 --> 00:14:55,160 Speaker 1: access to the US, the guy in the US didn't 234 00:14:55,200 --> 00:14:58,480 Speaker 1: have access to those unique ingredients and those qualities that 235 00:14:58,480 --> 00:15:01,800 Speaker 1: that that cookie company had, they needed each other and 236 00:15:01,840 --> 00:15:04,520 Speaker 1: therefore you created something. You find the inefficiencies of what 237 00:15:04,600 --> 00:15:08,160 Speaker 1: people don't have, and if you understand people's platforms, you 238 00:15:08,240 --> 00:15:11,920 Speaker 1: bring in the biggest people were principal investors in the 239 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:13,920 Speaker 1: deals we do, and we do a lot of things 240 00:15:13,960 --> 00:15:16,040 Speaker 1: in technology, and we do a lot of things in 241 00:15:16,040 --> 00:15:18,960 Speaker 1: the consumer space. Those are really our areas, but we 242 00:15:19,000 --> 00:15:21,120 Speaker 1: have done things in a lot of different areas. For example, 243 00:15:21,240 --> 00:15:23,440 Speaker 1: we did a deal with the Boon Pickens, and we 244 00:15:23,520 --> 00:15:26,760 Speaker 1: brought a billionaire from Asia who wanted to have access 245 00:15:26,800 --> 00:15:29,920 Speaker 1: to the energy industry. We helped t Boon divest of 246 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:33,680 Speaker 1: some assets, build a great international relationship which ended up 247 00:15:33,960 --> 00:15:37,640 Speaker 1: being a massive transaction, and subsequently he was involved in 248 00:15:37,640 --> 00:15:39,880 Speaker 1: a number of other deals with the Boon. Can you 249 00:15:39,920 --> 00:15:43,040 Speaker 1: give us an idea of what is your participation in this? 250 00:15:43,160 --> 00:15:45,520 Speaker 1: Do you take an equity stake? How do you make money? 251 00:15:45,560 --> 00:15:48,480 Speaker 1: Were principal investors in all the deals that we do 252 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:52,200 Speaker 1: and we are we own a piece of the business. 253 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:57,880 Speaker 1: So by bringing people together and creating the value from scratch, uh, 254 00:15:58,120 --> 00:16:01,440 Speaker 1: we are. We we form a neukoe typically and that 255 00:16:01,560 --> 00:16:04,400 Speaker 1: new code, we become a shareholder in that. And so 256 00:16:04,440 --> 00:16:06,880 Speaker 1: we're long term. We have a long term view whatever 257 00:16:06,960 --> 00:16:09,760 Speaker 1: we do because we believe in the people we were 258 00:16:10,280 --> 00:16:13,920 Speaker 1: we're putting together. We're not we're not brokering introductions for 259 00:16:14,080 --> 00:16:18,560 Speaker 1: five minutes of fees. We're doing it for the long term. 260 00:16:18,920 --> 00:16:21,680 Speaker 1: We've been doing it almost twenty years. So Dmitri, how 261 00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:26,400 Speaker 1: have you established such a network of billionaires and business owners? 262 00:16:27,280 --> 00:16:30,160 Speaker 1: That's a great question. I think part of it stems from, 263 00:16:30,320 --> 00:16:33,280 Speaker 1: you know, just very early in my career, I was 264 00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:37,280 Speaker 1: fortunate enough to intern for and volunteer for UM you know, 265 00:16:37,320 --> 00:16:42,920 Speaker 1: the former President Clinton. I you know, UM, I was 266 00:16:42,960 --> 00:16:45,680 Speaker 1: able to you know, I just it's just in my blood. 267 00:16:45,880 --> 00:16:48,000 Speaker 1: Networking was something I've always done since I was a 268 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:51,120 Speaker 1: young guy, and I had some great mentors from you know, 269 00:16:51,160 --> 00:16:54,640 Speaker 1: the guy that helps start Motel six uh to you 270 00:16:54,680 --> 00:16:59,480 Speaker 1: know certain well known business mavens in in California, to 271 00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:03,160 Speaker 1: you know, being influenced by people like the former president 272 00:17:03,440 --> 00:17:07,080 Speaker 1: and other global leaders uh, and really just learning how 273 00:17:07,119 --> 00:17:09,800 Speaker 1: to build relationships and trust and not being in a 274 00:17:09,880 --> 00:17:14,040 Speaker 1: rush to create something. Um. People that are so successful 275 00:17:14,119 --> 00:17:19,080 Speaker 1: have a low um uh tolerance for people that are 276 00:17:19,160 --> 00:17:21,360 Speaker 1: quick to do stuff. If you have a long term 277 00:17:21,359 --> 00:17:25,199 Speaker 1: approach and you can create real value and you demonstrate 278 00:17:25,240 --> 00:17:27,720 Speaker 1: that time and time again, you build a great amount 279 00:17:27,720 --> 00:17:30,680 Speaker 1: of trust with someone like that, which is something that 280 00:17:30,720 --> 00:17:33,440 Speaker 1: they have a hard time believing with believing in people, 281 00:17:33,480 --> 00:17:35,159 Speaker 1: because there's a lot of people that it's hard to 282 00:17:35,160 --> 00:17:38,480 Speaker 1: trust people. When you have everything, people always want something 283 00:17:38,520 --> 00:17:42,040 Speaker 1: from your Well, I'm wondering, in as part as part 284 00:17:42,119 --> 00:17:46,280 Speaker 1: of the act of building that relationship, have you found 285 00:17:46,520 --> 00:17:50,119 Speaker 1: that you really only want to bring consumer deals to 286 00:17:51,040 --> 00:17:54,119 Speaker 1: organizations or people that have a consumer background. You have 287 00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:56,399 Speaker 1: people that are interested in perhaps in real estate, and 288 00:17:56,440 --> 00:17:59,160 Speaker 1: they only have a real estate background, and is does 289 00:17:59,200 --> 00:18:02,920 Speaker 1: that characterize it? They stick to what they know, right, 290 00:18:02,960 --> 00:18:05,879 Speaker 1: I mean, I I know a little bit about a 291 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:09,280 Speaker 1: lot of things, and as long as I understand how 292 00:18:10,320 --> 00:18:12,800 Speaker 1: to put the value together and who to put together, 293 00:18:13,160 --> 00:18:17,439 Speaker 1: it becomes very natural at doing almost doing this for 294 00:18:17,440 --> 00:18:18,879 Speaker 1: twenty years. So right, but do they have but do 295 00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:22,359 Speaker 1: they have to have expertise in that specific subject matter? 296 00:18:22,520 --> 00:18:24,840 Speaker 1: So for example, you know people who have a lot 297 00:18:24,840 --> 00:18:26,480 Speaker 1: of money, let's say a family office that has a 298 00:18:26,560 --> 00:18:28,439 Speaker 1: lot of money, they're not even though it might be 299 00:18:28,480 --> 00:18:32,040 Speaker 1: a great deal, if they don't understand the business or 300 00:18:32,119 --> 00:18:35,080 Speaker 1: they're not have you know, historical experience either with their 301 00:18:35,119 --> 00:18:38,640 Speaker 1: family or what made them wealthy. If they don't have 302 00:18:38,720 --> 00:18:41,760 Speaker 1: that connection, do you kind of say that's not really 303 00:18:41,760 --> 00:18:43,680 Speaker 1: gonna work, because you know, just because they have a 304 00:18:43,720 --> 00:18:47,000 Speaker 1: lot of money doesn't really gonna you You want them 305 00:18:47,040 --> 00:18:50,760 Speaker 1: to be strategic, of course, but sometimes you want also 306 00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:53,800 Speaker 1: family officers to participate and if they believe in the 307 00:18:53,840 --> 00:18:56,600 Speaker 1: track record of the people were putting together, they're they're 308 00:18:56,720 --> 00:19:00,600 Speaker 1: they're investing or co investing with us because they believe 309 00:19:00,800 --> 00:19:04,119 Speaker 1: in the in that in that strategy, in their in 310 00:19:04,160 --> 00:19:07,800 Speaker 1: their track record. Yeah, is there any anecdote that you 311 00:19:07,840 --> 00:19:11,720 Speaker 1: could share that you can describe how long a deal 312 00:19:11,800 --> 00:19:13,679 Speaker 1: takes to make? Because you talk about this idea of 313 00:19:13,680 --> 00:19:16,640 Speaker 1: you know, not wanting to do a quick turnaround. How 314 00:19:16,680 --> 00:19:18,480 Speaker 1: long can it take to see it the deal to 315 00:19:18,560 --> 00:19:21,000 Speaker 1: make it happen. You mentioned one that happened overnight, but 316 00:19:21,040 --> 00:19:22,639 Speaker 1: I mean it's got to be something that took it 317 00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:25,680 Speaker 1: a long time to you know, come pruition. I mean, 318 00:19:26,200 --> 00:19:29,960 Speaker 1: you know, building trust is is something you have to 319 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:32,280 Speaker 1: have a long term view on and as long as 320 00:19:32,280 --> 00:19:34,400 Speaker 1: you have a long term view on it, it will 321 00:19:35,160 --> 00:19:37,400 Speaker 1: there's a very good chance that it will materialize over 322 00:19:37,480 --> 00:19:40,239 Speaker 1: time if you continue to bring value. But I do 323 00:19:40,320 --> 00:19:43,960 Speaker 1: not see, um, you know, deals that just happened like 324 00:19:44,080 --> 00:19:48,200 Speaker 1: that unless the opportunity is there. And since you've built 325 00:19:48,200 --> 00:19:51,200 Speaker 1: the trust though, and you've deposited that trust over time, 326 00:19:51,440 --> 00:19:55,320 Speaker 1: when something ripe happens, it happens very quickly. So I 327 00:19:55,359 --> 00:19:58,000 Speaker 1: think my suggestion is have a long term view, be patient, 328 00:19:58,200 --> 00:20:01,919 Speaker 1: don't be opportunistic, be because if you create value for people, 329 00:20:02,480 --> 00:20:06,159 Speaker 1: it will naturally happen. Dmitriopolis thank you so much for 330 00:20:06,240 --> 00:20:10,280 Speaker 1: joining us. Dmitri Janopolis is founder and chief executive officer 331 00:20:10,320 --> 00:20:26,960 Speaker 1: of Avant Global, which is based in Santa Barbara. All right, now, 332 00:20:27,080 --> 00:20:30,080 Speaker 1: what do CVS, Harley Davidson, Wells Fargo, and Bank of 333 00:20:30,119 --> 00:20:33,160 Speaker 1: America all have in common? Well, David Cats, the chief 334 00:20:33,160 --> 00:20:36,880 Speaker 1: investment officer of Matrix Asset Advisors with more than seven 335 00:20:37,359 --> 00:20:40,840 Speaker 1: fifty million under management, thinks that these companies will do 336 00:20:40,880 --> 00:20:43,879 Speaker 1: pretty well regardless of whatever happens with tax reform. David, 337 00:20:43,880 --> 00:20:46,479 Speaker 1: thanks for being with us. Nice to be here. So 338 00:20:46,560 --> 00:20:51,240 Speaker 1: give us the thesis. Why are these companies CVS, pharmaceuticals, 339 00:20:51,560 --> 00:20:56,320 Speaker 1: pharmacy benefits, Harley Davidson, of course, motorcycles, and the banking industry, 340 00:20:56,359 --> 00:20:59,439 Speaker 1: Wells Fargo, Bank of America? What makes them appear on 341 00:20:59,480 --> 00:21:01,119 Speaker 1: your list of stocks that you think are going to 342 00:21:01,200 --> 00:21:05,760 Speaker 1: do well? So we like these companies based upon favorable 343 00:21:05,800 --> 00:21:09,720 Speaker 1: long term prospects, but most importantly based on their valuation. 344 00:21:09,800 --> 00:21:12,800 Speaker 1: So they're good businesses, good outlooks, and they're all selling 345 00:21:13,440 --> 00:21:15,800 Speaker 1: for well under our market multiple. But what makes them 346 00:21:15,840 --> 00:21:19,200 Speaker 1: particularly interesting is if you're an investor and you're looking 347 00:21:19,240 --> 00:21:21,520 Speaker 1: for things that are going to benefit by the new 348 00:21:21,600 --> 00:21:24,840 Speaker 1: tax plan. If it were to ultimately go through, all 349 00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:27,600 Speaker 1: of them pay pretty high tax rates. They would get 350 00:21:27,640 --> 00:21:31,760 Speaker 1: a lot of release relief from a new tax plan, uh, 351 00:21:31,800 --> 00:21:34,359 Speaker 1: and it would be a significant kick to their earning. 352 00:21:34,480 --> 00:21:37,960 Speaker 1: So you'd get an additional catalyst. David, how much can 353 00:21:37,960 --> 00:21:40,880 Speaker 1: you really trade around a tax plan that is currently 354 00:21:41,160 --> 00:21:45,359 Speaker 1: still in sketch form. That is a great question. We 355 00:21:45,440 --> 00:21:48,560 Speaker 1: absolutely would not trade around the tax plan because there's 356 00:21:48,600 --> 00:21:50,719 Speaker 1: going to be a tremendous amount of changes. There's no 357 00:21:50,800 --> 00:21:53,879 Speaker 1: assurance that it's going to ultimately happen, So we would 358 00:21:53,920 --> 00:21:57,200 Speaker 1: not be using that as an ultimate driver for buying 359 00:21:57,320 --> 00:22:00,159 Speaker 1: or selling stocks. We would not make any change to 360 00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:03,359 Speaker 1: a portfolio. So when we recommend that these stocks, were 361 00:22:03,359 --> 00:22:05,399 Speaker 1: saying we like these companies. We think they're going to 362 00:22:05,480 --> 00:22:08,600 Speaker 1: do very well over the next six to twelve months regardless. 363 00:22:08,760 --> 00:22:12,360 Speaker 1: But if you're looking at buying something and a tax play, 364 00:22:12,440 --> 00:22:15,879 Speaker 1: if the tax plan ultimately goes through, um, you get 365 00:22:16,040 --> 00:22:18,640 Speaker 1: the icing on the cake. David, how much are you 366 00:22:18,920 --> 00:22:22,320 Speaker 1: confident that the tax plan I'll be at a sketch 367 00:22:22,359 --> 00:22:25,600 Speaker 1: of one at this point, could generate the kind of 368 00:22:25,760 --> 00:22:31,120 Speaker 1: growth that Secretary Treasury Treasury Secretary Steve Nuchin and President 369 00:22:31,119 --> 00:22:35,600 Speaker 1: Trump I been saying, well, realistically, we don't think that 370 00:22:35,600 --> 00:22:37,280 Speaker 1: that's going to be the case. We think it's a 371 00:22:37,320 --> 00:22:39,399 Speaker 1: good thing for the economy. It provides a little bit 372 00:22:39,400 --> 00:22:43,920 Speaker 1: of a tailwind, UH puts more money in consumers pocketbooks hopefully, 373 00:22:43,920 --> 00:22:46,160 Speaker 1: although we don't have any clue about how that's gonna look. 374 00:22:46,720 --> 00:22:49,600 Speaker 1: One thing that is clear, however, is it will lower 375 00:22:49,720 --> 00:22:52,920 Speaker 1: corporate taxes. And if you lower corporate taxes, what that 376 00:22:52,960 --> 00:22:55,399 Speaker 1: means is more goes to the bottom line, so you 377 00:22:55,400 --> 00:22:57,399 Speaker 1: have a pickup and earnings, and then from a stock 378 00:22:57,480 --> 00:23:01,840 Speaker 1: market perspective, higher earnings generally a lead to higher stock prices. 379 00:23:01,880 --> 00:23:05,320 Speaker 1: So we think it's ultimately good for the economy, but 380 00:23:05,400 --> 00:23:08,880 Speaker 1: we don't have any confidence that the lower taxes are 381 00:23:08,880 --> 00:23:11,359 Speaker 1: going to accelerate growth to appointment that it becomes tax 382 00:23:11,400 --> 00:23:14,840 Speaker 1: neutral or revenue neutral. But we do think ultimately it's 383 00:23:14,880 --> 00:23:17,720 Speaker 1: good for the overall economy if they can get something through. 384 00:23:18,400 --> 00:23:20,960 Speaker 1: David tell us about the j C, I want to 385 00:23:20,960 --> 00:23:23,240 Speaker 1: know what you think you think about specific stocks like 386 00:23:23,359 --> 00:23:28,040 Speaker 1: Johnson Controls. So, Johnson Controls is an industrial company. They've 387 00:23:28,080 --> 00:23:31,520 Speaker 1: remade themselves in the last year with acquisitions. UH. The 388 00:23:31,560 --> 00:23:34,040 Speaker 1: new management of the combined company has not done a 389 00:23:34,040 --> 00:23:37,159 Speaker 1: particularly good job. So actually they disappointed this year that 390 00:23:37,280 --> 00:23:39,679 Speaker 1: one of the few industrials that did, and one of 391 00:23:39,680 --> 00:23:42,399 Speaker 1: their disappointments was they did a particularly poor job in 392 00:23:42,480 --> 00:23:46,040 Speaker 1: terms of cash flow. Since then, they've changed the CEO. 393 00:23:46,280 --> 00:23:50,000 Speaker 1: We think the new CEO is very motivated, very competent, 394 00:23:50,080 --> 00:23:51,679 Speaker 1: and we think that their focus is going to be 395 00:23:51,800 --> 00:23:54,920 Speaker 1: on synergies from the combination that they made last year 396 00:23:55,400 --> 00:23:58,399 Speaker 1: uh and making sure that the cash flow approximates or 397 00:23:58,440 --> 00:24:01,000 Speaker 1: gets much closer to what they're earning stream is. And 398 00:24:01,040 --> 00:24:03,480 Speaker 1: if that's the case, we think the stock easily has 399 00:24:03,560 --> 00:24:06,880 Speaker 1: twenty five to thirty five percent upside over the next 400 00:24:06,880 --> 00:24:09,640 Speaker 1: twelve months. David real quick, is there anything that you've 401 00:24:09,680 --> 00:24:14,399 Speaker 1: recently soured on as a potential stock? Well, not so 402 00:24:14,480 --> 00:24:16,680 Speaker 1: much soured on, but one thing that we would strongly 403 00:24:16,720 --> 00:24:21,400 Speaker 1: advise investors against is putting new money into utilities. Investors 404 00:24:21,400 --> 00:24:24,639 Speaker 1: have been seeking yield, uh so utilities are interesting on 405 00:24:24,680 --> 00:24:26,280 Speaker 1: that basis, But if you look at them on a 406 00:24:26,400 --> 00:24:30,919 Speaker 1: valuation basis, many utilities are selling between eighteen and twenty 407 00:24:30,920 --> 00:24:34,200 Speaker 1: one times earnings. They normally sell at fifteen times earnings. 408 00:24:34,440 --> 00:24:37,640 Speaker 1: So if you've been fortunate, you've owned utilities we would 409 00:24:37,680 --> 00:24:39,960 Speaker 1: declare victory. Take some of that money off the table, 410 00:24:40,040 --> 00:24:43,399 Speaker 1: and we'd prefer the baby are the telecom companies like 411 00:24:43,440 --> 00:24:47,080 Speaker 1: a Verizon Um or a A T and T, which 412 00:24:47,080 --> 00:24:49,159 Speaker 1: have a little bit higher yields but tell at twelve 413 00:24:49,160 --> 00:24:52,320 Speaker 1: and thirteen times earnings rather than twenty times earnings. And 414 00:24:52,359 --> 00:24:55,800 Speaker 1: even some consumer product companies where their yields are pretty competitive. 415 00:24:56,320 --> 00:24:57,879 Speaker 1: You're paying a little bit more, but we think the 416 00:24:57,960 --> 00:25:00,679 Speaker 1: prospects are pretty good for them. At Cats, thank you 417 00:25:00,680 --> 00:25:02,880 Speaker 1: so much for joining us. David Cats as chief investment 418 00:25:02,920 --> 00:25:06,800 Speaker 1: Officer at Matrix Acid Advisors, which is based in New 419 00:25:06,880 --> 00:25:12,080 Speaker 1: York City. Thanks for listening to the Bloomberg P and 420 00:25:12,200 --> 00:25:15,200 Speaker 1: L podcast. You can subscribe and listen to interviews at 421 00:25:15,280 --> 00:25:19,720 Speaker 1: Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, or whatever podcast platform you prefer. I'm 422 00:25:19,720 --> 00:25:23,199 Speaker 1: pim Fox. I'm on Twitter at pim Fox. I'm on 423 00:25:23,200 --> 00:25:26,639 Speaker 1: Twitter at Lisa abramoids one. Before the podcast, you can 424 00:25:26,680 --> 00:25:29,040 Speaker 1: always catch us worldwide on Bloomberg Radio.