1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,040 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Bloomberg Markets Podcast. I'm Paul Sweeney alongside 2 00:00:04,040 --> 00:00:06,920 Speaker 1: my co host Matt Miller. Every business day we bring 3 00:00:06,960 --> 00:00:11,520 Speaker 1: you interviews from CEOs, market pros, and Bloomberg experts, along 4 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:15,600 Speaker 1: with essential market moving news. Find the Bloomberg Markets Podcast 5 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:18,479 Speaker 1: on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts, and 6 00:00:18,480 --> 00:00:22,120 Speaker 1: at Bloomberg dot com slash podcast. I want to get 7 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:24,279 Speaker 1: to right away to our next guest. A lot to 8 00:00:24,320 --> 00:00:28,400 Speaker 1: cover here, Oh Desh Pondae, Founder and Chief investment Officer 9 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:31,520 Speaker 1: of Centerstone Investors, by thanks so much for joining us here. 10 00:00:31,560 --> 00:00:33,880 Speaker 1: We've got a lift to the market here. But you know, 11 00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:37,040 Speaker 1: I'm gonna say, year to date, one of the primary 12 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:42,760 Speaker 1: characteristics of this market has been uncertainty slash volatility UM is, 13 00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:45,560 Speaker 1: how do you deal with that in your portfolio? It 14 00:00:45,640 --> 00:00:49,360 Speaker 1: just seems like we're getting major, major moves UM pretty 15 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:51,279 Speaker 1: much on a daily basis. We have a vix at 16 00:00:51,320 --> 00:00:52,920 Speaker 1: just above thirty. How do you deal with that in 17 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:57,200 Speaker 1: your portfolio? Well? Hi, well, good morning, first of all, 18 00:00:57,240 --> 00:00:59,520 Speaker 1: and thanks for having me and at center Stone. You 19 00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:01,639 Speaker 1: know we're them up investors, so we go stock by 20 00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:07,280 Speaker 1: stock um one of them one of the biggest you know, 21 00:01:07,319 --> 00:01:10,240 Speaker 1: I guess risk to portfolio this year has been you know, 22 00:01:10,240 --> 00:01:12,640 Speaker 1: whether or not you have exposure Russia, which we don't. 23 00:01:13,319 --> 00:01:15,920 Speaker 1: Another risk that's kind of uh, you know, you can 24 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:17,920 Speaker 1: see it overnight. For instance in China is how much 25 00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:20,840 Speaker 1: exposure you have to Chinese stocks and we have zero? 26 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:26,600 Speaker 1: Um And you know, so in that sense, even though yeah, 27 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 1: the markets are down a lot, our funds are, I 28 00:01:29,520 --> 00:01:35,200 Speaker 1: mean down, you know slightly. UM. So for the most part, 29 00:01:35,560 --> 00:01:38,119 Speaker 1: just being away from the riskiest parts of the market 30 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:41,200 Speaker 1: it works against you. For instance in two thousand twenty 31 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:44,319 Speaker 1: one where those many of those stocks did fine or 32 00:01:44,319 --> 00:01:46,559 Speaker 1: even better than fine. And then you know the other 33 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:49,840 Speaker 1: other environments that's did to be away from risk, and 34 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:52,680 Speaker 1: our style is such that we you know, we tend 35 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:54,840 Speaker 1: to be somewhat cautious when it comes to balance sheets 36 00:01:54,840 --> 00:01:58,360 Speaker 1: and management teams. So in that sense, you know, just 37 00:01:58,440 --> 00:02:01,640 Speaker 1: kind of by coincident, almost we don't have that much exposure. 38 00:02:01,760 --> 00:02:04,920 Speaker 1: Let me ask you then about growth, because I'm assuming 39 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:09,200 Speaker 1: that you're exposed to the economy, the US economy, UM, 40 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:11,480 Speaker 1: what kind of growth do you expect? Are you worried 41 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:16,600 Speaker 1: about a recession next year? Yeah? I think what to me? 42 00:02:17,200 --> 00:02:20,280 Speaker 1: And you know, take this with a grain of salt, 43 00:02:20,320 --> 00:02:22,840 Speaker 1: because I'm a stock picker. I'm not a geo political 44 00:02:22,880 --> 00:02:26,359 Speaker 1: strategist or whatever. But this this reminds me a lot 45 00:02:26,440 --> 00:02:30,240 Speaker 1: of September eleventh, in the sense that the US economy, 46 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:33,840 Speaker 1: the global economy, was already weakening in in two thousand 47 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:37,240 Speaker 1: one when that shock happened, and then there was a 48 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:41,799 Speaker 1: response the market rebounded, but then the ramifications of a 49 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:46,480 Speaker 1: weakening economy with a slowdown and whatnot meant that the 50 00:02:46,520 --> 00:02:49,080 Speaker 1: stock market had trouble for another year, even a little 51 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:51,799 Speaker 1: bit more. And I kind of, you know, so far 52 00:02:51,880 --> 00:02:54,320 Speaker 1: the playbook of the late nineties and early two thousands 53 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:56,600 Speaker 1: has been, you know, the one to use. And I 54 00:02:56,639 --> 00:02:59,600 Speaker 1: would not be surprised that there's some sort of piece 55 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:02,840 Speaker 1: deal something later this week the stock market has some lift, 56 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:05,320 Speaker 1: but the damage has kind of been done. I mean, 57 00:03:05,360 --> 00:03:08,520 Speaker 1: we've got a massive amount of inflation pressure. It's just 58 00:03:08,639 --> 00:03:13,280 Speaker 1: been added to the economy is already weakening the stock market. 59 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:16,000 Speaker 1: You know, in Europe the stock markets at twelve times 60 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:19,680 Speaker 1: normalized earnings with a three percent yield, So one could 61 00:03:19,720 --> 00:03:22,760 Speaker 1: make a case that there's somewhat um better position to 62 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:25,560 Speaker 1: handle this the US markets that twenty times aren't with 63 00:03:25,680 --> 00:03:27,160 Speaker 1: a one and a half percent of it and yield 64 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:33,000 Speaker 1: is there. There are there opportunities that you can tell 65 00:03:33,080 --> 00:03:34,720 Speaker 1: us about that you can share with us as bottoms 66 00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:37,600 Speaker 1: up stock pickers is something that you know, you're you're 67 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:39,560 Speaker 1: pumped about as you come into work on this Monday. 68 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:43,480 Speaker 1: We have a whole bunch of companies that are that 69 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:45,080 Speaker 1: are so I'll just focus on some that are in 70 00:03:45,080 --> 00:03:46,760 Speaker 1: the United States where that are easy to buy in 71 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:49,960 Speaker 1: the US markets. We're a bunch of companies that that 72 00:03:50,040 --> 00:03:53,320 Speaker 1: I like where we have um you know, they're kind 73 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:56,560 Speaker 1: of isolated there. The outcome is more dependent on management 74 00:03:56,720 --> 00:03:59,480 Speaker 1: decision making rather than interest rates and what happens in Russia. 75 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:02,280 Speaker 1: You know. One good example of c d K, which 76 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:07,440 Speaker 1: is a software company that provides UM you know basically 77 00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:11,760 Speaker 1: customer management inventory management tools to the auto dealerships in 78 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:14,520 Speaker 1: the United States with a big fifty six percent market 79 00:04:14,520 --> 00:04:18,000 Speaker 1: share depending on this region. Another company is Parago, which 80 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:22,320 Speaker 1: UM I thalked about before, but you know they're recovering now. 81 00:04:22,360 --> 00:04:28,960 Speaker 1: They're they're a manufacturer of of of private label UH 82 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:33,160 Speaker 1: generic drugs in the US. Communister like the basically the 83 00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:35,080 Speaker 1: tail and awls and stuff that you would get off 84 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:38,240 Speaker 1: brand in a CBS or an Amazon day. There again 85 00:04:38,360 --> 00:04:43,920 Speaker 1: Bust fifty market that was up. So that's Papa Romeo 86 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:47,320 Speaker 1: golf Oscar and the other one is Charlie Delta kilo 87 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:52,599 Speaker 1: of a. Are you in the reopening trade kind of business? 88 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:54,560 Speaker 1: Because I just spent a week out in Utah skiing 89 00:04:54,920 --> 00:04:58,080 Speaker 1: and it is wide open out there. The economy's ripping. 90 00:04:58,360 --> 00:05:03,440 Speaker 1: It is the best attendance year they've had ever. Are 91 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:07,039 Speaker 1: you in that reopening trade? I'd say directly, we're about 92 00:05:07,839 --> 00:05:12,279 Speaker 1: exposed to reopening stocks. Another that would be considered some 93 00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:16,560 Speaker 1: hybrid but mostly self help companies that are undergoing some 94 00:05:16,839 --> 00:05:19,920 Speaker 1: um you know, like these two companies have mentioned undergoing 95 00:05:19,960 --> 00:05:25,680 Speaker 1: a lot of management uh sort of help to to 96 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:28,480 Speaker 1: re orient these companies that have also been somewhat buffeted 97 00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:33,440 Speaker 1: by COVID. So roughly, we have exposed to the um 98 00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:36,279 Speaker 1: more of a reopening story. And that's globally, not just 99 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:38,920 Speaker 1: in the United States, but in Europe, parts of Asia, 100 00:05:39,839 --> 00:05:42,400 Speaker 1: and the remainder of the portfolios are essentially we have 101 00:05:42,440 --> 00:05:48,120 Speaker 1: gold treasure bond or treasure notes cash, some growth cut 102 00:05:48,120 --> 00:05:50,560 Speaker 1: type companies. But but but it sounds like you like 103 00:05:50,680 --> 00:05:54,560 Speaker 1: companies that are that have sort of self reflected and 104 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:59,479 Speaker 1: reassessed in our executing on that. Yeah, I mean I 105 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:03,279 Speaker 1: would much rather have a business where the outcome is 106 00:06:03,279 --> 00:06:08,159 Speaker 1: dependent on their own actions rather than external factors. That's 107 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:10,359 Speaker 1: the bulk of our portfolio. All right, Abbey, thank you 108 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:12,480 Speaker 1: so much. We always appreciate getting a few minutes of 109 00:06:12,520 --> 00:06:15,520 Speaker 1: your time. Abbe Dishpande, Founder and Chief investment Officer of 110 00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:22,800 Speaker 1: Centerstone Investors. We want to get right to our next conversation. 111 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:24,640 Speaker 1: This will be the conversation of the morning, if not 112 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:28,560 Speaker 1: the day. On Bloomberg Radio. Markian lup Kinski, advisor to 113 00:06:28,560 --> 00:06:31,640 Speaker 1: the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, joins us. He is 114 00:06:31,760 --> 00:06:35,720 Speaker 1: in Ukraine as we speak. Mr Lupkinski, Thank you so 115 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:39,160 Speaker 1: much for joining us. We'd really appreciate geting your perspective. 116 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:42,480 Speaker 1: What is the absolute latest on the ground from Ukraine? 117 00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:45,480 Speaker 1: Thank you, thank you so much for having having me 118 00:06:45,520 --> 00:06:50,440 Speaker 1: at Boom boo uh. And the situation in Ukraine remained 119 00:06:50,520 --> 00:06:54,840 Speaker 1: very hot. So a lot of Ukrainian cities are on 120 00:06:55,000 --> 00:07:01,559 Speaker 1: the attack of Russian aviation, Russian missiles. So this morning 121 00:07:01,640 --> 00:07:05,120 Speaker 1: Key was attacked with the missiles and this is terrible 122 00:07:05,760 --> 00:07:10,960 Speaker 1: because they are trying to to reach civil facilities. So 123 00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:16,280 Speaker 1: and again hercu is in in terrible situation. And the 124 00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:20,080 Speaker 1: but the most, the most dangerous and the tragic, I 125 00:07:20,120 --> 00:07:23,960 Speaker 1: would say situation is in Mariupo because Mariupo is blocked 126 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:28,680 Speaker 1: totally but by Russian troops and the situation there is 127 00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:32,640 Speaker 1: very hot. So are you, for your information, are you 128 00:07:32,680 --> 00:07:39,160 Speaker 1: having any success getting refugees out evacuating cities or are 129 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:44,160 Speaker 1: the Russians continuing to um, you know, bomb those uh, 130 00:07:44,280 --> 00:07:49,000 Speaker 1: those passageways. We are trying to establish so called humanitarian 131 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:52,760 Speaker 1: corridors from all blocked cities or from cities which are 132 00:07:52,800 --> 00:07:57,080 Speaker 1: under attack. So we we managed to establish around twelve 133 00:07:57,320 --> 00:08:01,720 Speaker 1: such corridors and we're trying to get people Ukrainians from 134 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:04,440 Speaker 1: that cities to the to the west and part to 135 00:08:04,520 --> 00:08:08,640 Speaker 1: uk of Ukraine to Ukrainian. But so but these people 136 00:08:08,880 --> 00:08:12,360 Speaker 1: are on the attack of Russians, they are shooting on them. 137 00:08:12,520 --> 00:08:18,280 Speaker 1: Yesterday American journalist was killed also because of both of Russians. 138 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:22,240 Speaker 1: Russians attacked him, they shot on him. And situation is 139 00:08:22,240 --> 00:08:24,840 Speaker 1: not so easy. So we're trying to assist over people. 140 00:08:24,880 --> 00:08:30,120 Speaker 1: So for for Ukrainian, for Ukrainian government, the most important 141 00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:34,040 Speaker 1: thing is to protect the people, to rescue them, and 142 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:38,240 Speaker 1: that that was also point number one during today's negotiations 143 00:08:38,320 --> 00:08:42,040 Speaker 1: with the Russian delegation. So Mr Lupkovski, were you are 144 00:08:42,080 --> 00:08:45,000 Speaker 1: now in your third week of this battle this world, 145 00:08:45,320 --> 00:08:48,280 Speaker 1: and based upon what you've learned so far, and based 146 00:08:48,360 --> 00:08:51,160 Speaker 1: upon the conversations that you and the Ukrainian government have 147 00:08:51,280 --> 00:08:56,600 Speaker 1: had with the Russian delegation, what do you think Mr Putin? Really? Once? 148 00:08:59,200 --> 00:09:02,640 Speaker 1: I think that you krane only the something, only the 149 00:09:02,760 --> 00:09:08,200 Speaker 1: stage in his uh intention to get more. I think 150 00:09:08,240 --> 00:09:11,960 Speaker 1: that he what he wants to re establish Soviet Union 151 00:09:12,440 --> 00:09:16,080 Speaker 1: and nobody can be secure right now. So my, my, 152 00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:21,120 Speaker 1: my forecast is very pessimistic. So he will not stop 153 00:09:21,720 --> 00:09:25,880 Speaker 1: bombing and attacking Ukraine. After Ukraine will will fall, but 154 00:09:26,440 --> 00:09:29,000 Speaker 1: he will fight to the end. Yes, he will go. 155 00:09:29,440 --> 00:09:32,760 Speaker 1: He will go to Baltic States, to Poland, probably to Moldova. 156 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:36,800 Speaker 1: So this is his intention and this is terrible. Yeah. So, 157 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:41,080 Speaker 1: I mean, what we're hearing is that the Ukrainian defense 158 00:09:41,120 --> 00:09:46,200 Speaker 1: has been much stronger than President Putin had expected. Um, 159 00:09:46,360 --> 00:09:51,480 Speaker 1: how how how long can you preserve that strength? Because 160 00:09:51,520 --> 00:09:55,880 Speaker 1: clearly Russia has so much in terms of troops and 161 00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:59,600 Speaker 1: armament that it has yet to bring to bear. Yeah. 162 00:09:59,679 --> 00:10:04,880 Speaker 1: So uh, today is the nineteenth day of our heroic resistance, 163 00:10:05,559 --> 00:10:10,240 Speaker 1: resistance by Ukrainian armed forces, and Putting never expected that 164 00:10:10,800 --> 00:10:15,080 Speaker 1: he will he will find such kinds of resistance and 165 00:10:15,679 --> 00:10:20,000 Speaker 1: his plans. His plan was to take Kiev in okarkive 166 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:23,480 Speaker 1: In in two three days, so but that never happened. 167 00:10:23,960 --> 00:10:28,920 Speaker 1: We still have enough power to protect ourselves. But from 168 00:10:28,920 --> 00:10:33,360 Speaker 1: the other side, the you know, hope, Uh, the Russian 169 00:10:33,360 --> 00:10:37,439 Speaker 1: troops are numerous and they're bringing a lot of weapons 170 00:10:37,520 --> 00:10:42,960 Speaker 1: to Ukrainian territory. So that's why Uh, Ukrainian forces are 171 00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:47,720 Speaker 1: in critical need of anti tank weapons, defense missile systems, 172 00:10:47,840 --> 00:10:53,360 Speaker 1: ammunition rathers and intelligence systems. So we're really looking forward 173 00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:58,120 Speaker 1: to get all these all these tools from other partners. 174 00:10:58,840 --> 00:11:03,400 Speaker 1: And again this discussion around MIX cannot take too much 175 00:11:03,480 --> 00:11:07,440 Speaker 1: time because if we will not get that assistance, it 176 00:11:07,480 --> 00:11:11,160 Speaker 1: will be too late. If you do get the MiGs. No, 177 00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:14,080 Speaker 1: if if you do get the mix, or how how 178 00:11:14,760 --> 00:11:16,959 Speaker 1: will will it? Will you be ready to fly them? 179 00:11:16,960 --> 00:11:18,520 Speaker 1: Will you be ready to operate them? Will you be 180 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:22,000 Speaker 1: ready to maintain them? Sure? If you will get mixed, 181 00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:25,959 Speaker 1: we will we will close the sky over Ukraine, we 182 00:11:26,040 --> 00:11:28,840 Speaker 1: will be able to operate them, to fly with them, 183 00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:33,000 Speaker 1: and we will be able to shut on on missiles 184 00:11:33,040 --> 00:11:36,320 Speaker 1: and protect Ukraine from the air because right now we 185 00:11:36,360 --> 00:11:39,560 Speaker 1: are quite good on the ground and the but but 186 00:11:39,760 --> 00:11:44,280 Speaker 1: the air site is still very big, big part of 187 00:11:44,280 --> 00:11:49,840 Speaker 1: of of our our resistance. So Mr. Lupkivski, give us 188 00:11:49,840 --> 00:11:52,439 Speaker 1: a state of the talks that you're having with the 189 00:11:52,520 --> 00:11:57,480 Speaker 1: Russian counterparts. There are any progress being made? How just 190 00:11:57,520 --> 00:12:02,520 Speaker 1: give us a status report. So, uh, you know, our 191 00:12:03,360 --> 00:12:06,920 Speaker 1: negotiations with the Russians took place today and there was 192 00:12:06,960 --> 00:12:10,480 Speaker 1: taking a technical break, so we will proceed to speak 193 00:12:10,520 --> 00:12:16,239 Speaker 1: to them tomorrow. But other positions, our position positions remain unchanged. 194 00:12:16,920 --> 00:12:20,760 Speaker 1: So a position of Ukrainian side is to establish to 195 00:12:20,840 --> 00:12:26,240 Speaker 1: achieve peace, immediate ceasefire, withdrawal of all Russian troops after all, 196 00:12:26,840 --> 00:12:29,880 Speaker 1: and only after that we can talk about some some 197 00:12:30,160 --> 00:12:34,520 Speaker 1: relations or political settlements. So I can say that at 198 00:12:34,559 --> 00:12:39,719 Speaker 1: this stage there is no big, big progress, but negotiations 199 00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:43,480 Speaker 1: are ongoing, and as a diplomat, I still believe that 200 00:12:43,520 --> 00:12:46,680 Speaker 1: the negotiations are the only way how we can solve 201 00:12:47,040 --> 00:12:50,920 Speaker 1: the and how we can protect Ukraine from the from 202 00:12:50,960 --> 00:12:56,440 Speaker 1: the Russian aggression. So you you mentioned the threat from 203 00:12:56,480 --> 00:12:58,560 Speaker 1: the skies. Give us your thoughts or kind of the 204 00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:02,680 Speaker 1: thinking within Ukraine and diplomat circles about a no fly zone. 205 00:13:02,760 --> 00:13:05,400 Speaker 1: What does that mean to you? Um and how important 206 00:13:05,440 --> 00:13:09,880 Speaker 1: would that be? It is important, but I'm quite skeptical 207 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:13,800 Speaker 1: because almost every day we're trying to uh to to 208 00:13:14,280 --> 00:13:18,040 Speaker 1: you know, to close the sky over Ukraine. And this 209 00:13:18,120 --> 00:13:21,120 Speaker 1: is crucial for us because in that case, but in 210 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:24,560 Speaker 1: that case we can, we can. We also understand the 211 00:13:24,559 --> 00:13:29,080 Speaker 1: the over threats which are coming with that, for for NATO, 212 00:13:29,320 --> 00:13:32,240 Speaker 1: for PONATO countries. But from the other side, let me 213 00:13:32,320 --> 00:13:37,240 Speaker 1: remind it, yesterday almost devoted with the NATO States was 214 00:13:37,880 --> 00:13:43,400 Speaker 1: under attack because of of missiles on the peace keeping 215 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:49,280 Speaker 1: International peacekeeping center near Ukrainian Polish body. So nobody is 216 00:13:49,320 --> 00:13:52,480 Speaker 1: safe now. And I think that we are too late 217 00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:55,920 Speaker 1: with the all these you know, discussions to to close 218 00:13:55,920 --> 00:13:59,240 Speaker 1: the sky or not. We should be very very you know, 219 00:13:59,679 --> 00:14:02,760 Speaker 1: tough in that. But because what we will do if 220 00:14:02,800 --> 00:14:07,040 Speaker 1: one day put in will will will get the victory 221 00:14:07,080 --> 00:14:10,160 Speaker 1: and he will appear and on the boarder with the 222 00:14:10,280 --> 00:14:14,400 Speaker 1: with the NATO countries, and so you know, that's why 223 00:14:14,840 --> 00:14:18,400 Speaker 1: we're really looking forward to to to get more assistance 224 00:14:18,960 --> 00:14:22,360 Speaker 1: and to be brave, you need from from other partners 225 00:14:22,400 --> 00:14:26,600 Speaker 1: to show how the day are brave as Ukrainian stuff. 226 00:14:26,760 --> 00:14:28,800 Speaker 1: Can I can I just ask because we heard from 227 00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:33,880 Speaker 1: a US defense official UM the Pentagon thought that it 228 00:14:33,960 --> 00:14:38,560 Speaker 1: wasn't really clear if Ukraine did need additional fixed wing 229 00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:42,200 Speaker 1: fighter aircraft liked like the MiGs that Poland offered earlier 230 00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:46,080 Speaker 1: this week. You're saying you definitely want those MiGs. You 231 00:14:46,160 --> 00:14:48,560 Speaker 1: have the ability to use them, and you could create 232 00:14:48,600 --> 00:14:51,800 Speaker 1: a no fly zone yourself without NATO involvement if you 233 00:14:51,840 --> 00:14:56,280 Speaker 1: had the equipment correct correct, So correct, absolutely, And if 234 00:14:56,320 --> 00:14:59,520 Speaker 1: we can get mixed from one side and we can 235 00:14:59,560 --> 00:15:02,880 Speaker 1: get all assistance you can, you can provide us intense 236 00:15:02,960 --> 00:15:06,080 Speaker 1: to protect our sky. We will be able to protect 237 00:15:06,200 --> 00:15:12,200 Speaker 1: Ukraine ourselves. So Mark, and from your perspective again, Day nineteen, 238 00:15:12,720 --> 00:15:18,040 Speaker 1: what would be a victory for Ukraine here realistically, given 239 00:15:18,040 --> 00:15:19,880 Speaker 1: where we are right now, what would be a victory 240 00:15:19,920 --> 00:15:26,960 Speaker 1: for Ukraine? Very tough question. But for us, the victory 241 00:15:27,080 --> 00:15:32,360 Speaker 1: will be then Russian troops will leave Ukraine, uh they 242 00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:36,800 Speaker 1: then they will stop shooting on on other people. So 243 00:15:36,920 --> 00:15:40,560 Speaker 1: I'm I'm optimistic in that regard so I think that 244 00:15:40,600 --> 00:15:43,600 Speaker 1: we will win, we will survive. We we we we 245 00:15:43,640 --> 00:15:48,240 Speaker 1: are very motivated nation. And I'm I'm impressed with our 246 00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:52,080 Speaker 1: army which is really good and on the ground and 247 00:15:52,560 --> 00:15:56,320 Speaker 1: protecting the other people. So I think that the the 248 00:15:56,320 --> 00:16:01,480 Speaker 1: the final final victory will be then Ukraine will bring 249 00:16:01,720 --> 00:16:06,600 Speaker 1: back other territories including Crimea and the and the donants 250 00:16:06,600 --> 00:16:09,160 Speaker 1: can look on skur reagents. At this stage this is 251 00:16:09,160 --> 00:16:12,480 Speaker 1: not realistic. But from the other side, this is the 252 00:16:12,600 --> 00:16:16,040 Speaker 1: this is the the points for discussion with the with 253 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:22,920 Speaker 1: the Russians and the again via Via absolutely focused on negotiations. 254 00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:26,080 Speaker 1: We we are not we are protecting ourselves. We are 255 00:16:26,120 --> 00:16:28,720 Speaker 1: we are descending our countries. We are not attacking anybody. 256 00:16:29,280 --> 00:16:34,000 Speaker 1: So and we we but we we we need that negotiations. Uh. 257 00:16:34,240 --> 00:16:38,480 Speaker 1: And I think that the President Zelenski was very clear 258 00:16:38,520 --> 00:16:41,960 Speaker 1: in that, and he's staying in Kiev together with the government, 259 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:45,080 Speaker 1: with the parliament, and we are ready to protect our 260 00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:48,400 Speaker 1: capital market. And Lupkivski, thank you so much for joining us. 261 00:16:48,440 --> 00:16:50,320 Speaker 1: We really appreciate you taking the time and giving us 262 00:16:50,360 --> 00:16:53,760 Speaker 1: the latest from Ukraine. Mark and Lupkivski, advisor to the 263 00:16:53,760 --> 00:16:59,800 Speaker 1: Minister of Defense of Ukraine, let's check in with Ed Smith. 264 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:02,920 Speaker 1: He's partner president of Union Square Advisors. Ted, we came 265 00:17:02,960 --> 00:17:06,320 Speaker 1: into the year and everybody's preaching volatility. Boy with a right, 266 00:17:06,760 --> 00:17:10,920 Speaker 1: what's your market call right here in the middle of March. Well, 267 00:17:11,000 --> 00:17:12,520 Speaker 1: we think we're going to continue to see quite a 268 00:17:12,520 --> 00:17:15,159 Speaker 1: bit of volatility yet, Paul and Matt, thank you for 269 00:17:15,200 --> 00:17:17,399 Speaker 1: having me today. But we also think that it's gonna 270 00:17:17,480 --> 00:17:19,160 Speaker 1: play itself out a little bit here in the first 271 00:17:19,200 --> 00:17:21,800 Speaker 1: in the second quarter, where things will likely get a 272 00:17:21,840 --> 00:17:23,679 Speaker 1: little calmer in the second half of the year, and 273 00:17:23,720 --> 00:17:25,800 Speaker 1: we'll get back to what we hope will be a 274 00:17:25,800 --> 00:17:30,800 Speaker 1: greater degree of normality. So is the Fed going to 275 00:17:30,840 --> 00:17:34,040 Speaker 1: throw a wrench in those plans? I mean, is the 276 00:17:34,040 --> 00:17:37,199 Speaker 1: Fed going to aggressively hike us into a recession or 277 00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:39,080 Speaker 1: are they going to turn tail and run at the 278 00:17:39,080 --> 00:17:43,119 Speaker 1: first sign of real economic pain. I think they're going 279 00:17:43,200 --> 00:17:45,600 Speaker 1: to be measured about it. I think they're gonna try really, 280 00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:49,879 Speaker 1: really hard not to drive us into that recessionary territory. Um. 281 00:17:49,920 --> 00:17:52,280 Speaker 1: They've got a lot of conflicting signals out there between 282 00:17:52,359 --> 00:17:55,399 Speaker 1: what's happening with inflation and prices across the board, certainly 283 00:17:55,440 --> 00:17:59,320 Speaker 1: with oil that everybody with a car stealing pain about UM. 284 00:17:59,359 --> 00:18:01,159 Speaker 1: But we're also of seeing, you know, a lot of 285 00:18:01,160 --> 00:18:06,520 Speaker 1: other factors. Obviously, the situation in Ukraine, UM, various aspects 286 00:18:06,520 --> 00:18:08,840 Speaker 1: of the overall economy are sending those mixed signals. So 287 00:18:08,840 --> 00:18:11,000 Speaker 1: I think that's got a pretty tough job to do. 288 00:18:11,320 --> 00:18:14,240 Speaker 1: But I think job one is making sure that we 289 00:18:14,280 --> 00:18:16,439 Speaker 1: curb inflation, and job too is making sure that we 290 00:18:16,480 --> 00:18:18,439 Speaker 1: don't work so hard that, to your point, we we 291 00:18:18,520 --> 00:18:21,680 Speaker 1: drive us back into a processionary territory, all right, ted, 292 00:18:21,800 --> 00:18:25,560 Speaker 1: Given that backdrop in and there's a many many bricks 293 00:18:25,600 --> 00:18:28,639 Speaker 1: in the wall of worry these days, where are you 294 00:18:28,720 --> 00:18:30,639 Speaker 1: and your partners at Union Square? Where are you kind 295 00:18:30,640 --> 00:18:34,560 Speaker 1: of allocating capital these days? We're focused a lot we 296 00:18:34,720 --> 00:18:37,679 Speaker 1: First of all, we're a tech focused investment banks, so 297 00:18:37,720 --> 00:18:41,720 Speaker 1: we focused primarily in that sector. In the tech sector itself, 298 00:18:41,880 --> 00:18:44,960 Speaker 1: we're seeing a lot of activity continuing in cybersecurity. That's 299 00:18:44,960 --> 00:18:47,920 Speaker 1: always a hot space, but certainly again with the threats 300 00:18:48,119 --> 00:18:51,040 Speaker 1: UH in and around Ukraine, we've seen even a greater 301 00:18:51,119 --> 00:18:53,119 Speaker 1: surge there. We see a lot of work in and 302 00:18:53,160 --> 00:18:56,560 Speaker 1: around customer experience management, customer engagement given sort of the 303 00:18:56,560 --> 00:19:00,200 Speaker 1: new reality of how consumers interact with brands. We're seeing 304 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:03,600 Speaker 1: a lot of work around healthcare and healthcare I really 305 00:19:03,640 --> 00:19:05,960 Speaker 1: the rules of healthcare and i T have been rewritten 306 00:19:06,000 --> 00:19:07,840 Speaker 1: as a result of the pandemic, and so we're seeing 307 00:19:07,840 --> 00:19:10,560 Speaker 1: a lot of really new and interesting companies. And then 308 00:19:10,680 --> 00:19:12,840 Speaker 1: has certainly been the case over the past two or 309 00:19:12,880 --> 00:19:14,920 Speaker 1: three years with no signs of baiting, a lot of 310 00:19:14,960 --> 00:19:17,920 Speaker 1: work in and around fintech and next generation banking at canans. 311 00:19:18,560 --> 00:19:22,560 Speaker 1: Are those all good inflation hedges? I think they're gonna 312 00:19:22,720 --> 00:19:26,000 Speaker 1: there's I think they're different, obviously, I think, but I 313 00:19:26,040 --> 00:19:29,760 Speaker 1: think generally they are sector's poised for growth. And as 314 00:19:29,800 --> 00:19:31,480 Speaker 1: a result, if you think the right way to a 315 00:19:31,560 --> 00:19:34,280 Speaker 1: hedge against inflation, which we certainly do, is to invest 316 00:19:34,320 --> 00:19:36,560 Speaker 1: for growth so that you can outpace that inflation, we 317 00:19:36,600 --> 00:19:39,800 Speaker 1: think those are great sectors for ongoing growth. All right, 318 00:19:40,040 --> 00:19:41,720 Speaker 1: thank you so much for joining us. Really appreciate it. 319 00:19:41,720 --> 00:19:48,960 Speaker 1: We'll chat with you again. I first started learning about 320 00:19:49,119 --> 00:19:52,480 Speaker 1: e s G investing, environment, social governance probably a dozen 321 00:19:52,600 --> 00:19:56,239 Speaker 1: years ago talking to my institutional clients in Europe, and 322 00:19:56,359 --> 00:19:58,040 Speaker 1: they seem to be first and foremost on that. But 323 00:19:58,080 --> 00:19:59,960 Speaker 1: since then it's just become all the rage and global 324 00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:03,080 Speaker 1: asset management investors want to invest in E s G 325 00:20:03,920 --> 00:20:07,280 Speaker 1: friendly assets. Jonathan Maxwell, he does this for a living. 326 00:20:07,280 --> 00:20:10,280 Speaker 1: He's a CEO and co founder of Sustainable Development Capital. 327 00:20:10,960 --> 00:20:14,119 Speaker 1: Jonathan Again. E s G is a big, big, fast 328 00:20:14,119 --> 00:20:17,560 Speaker 1: growing part of the institutional investor marketplace. But I kind 329 00:20:17,560 --> 00:20:21,160 Speaker 1: of feel like, first with the pandemic and then now 330 00:20:21,200 --> 00:20:23,160 Speaker 1: maybe with the war in Ukraine, it's kind of been 331 00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:25,879 Speaker 1: pushed to the back burner. Just give us a status 332 00:20:26,040 --> 00:20:29,280 Speaker 1: from your perspective of how this market is in terms 333 00:20:29,320 --> 00:20:33,840 Speaker 1: of size and in terms of growth parameters. Yeah, thank 334 00:20:33,840 --> 00:20:37,320 Speaker 1: you very much for having me on today. So we've 335 00:20:37,320 --> 00:20:40,520 Speaker 1: seen a huge movement over the last ten fifteen years 336 00:20:40,800 --> 00:20:45,040 Speaker 1: in sustainable investment, and one of the largest markets has 337 00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:49,040 Speaker 1: been energy. That's been as much, if not more investment 338 00:20:49,119 --> 00:20:51,880 Speaker 1: in clean energy in the last ten past years then 339 00:20:51,920 --> 00:20:54,040 Speaker 1: that has been in conventional energy, and we've seen that 340 00:20:54,040 --> 00:20:56,360 Speaker 1: accelerat over the last two or three years. I think 341 00:20:56,400 --> 00:21:00,560 Speaker 1: what's going on right now um on a a political 342 00:21:01,200 --> 00:21:08,840 Speaker 1: front creates two directions. One, you know, is a realization 343 00:21:08,920 --> 00:21:12,640 Speaker 1: that an energy system which is or gas and call 344 00:21:13,240 --> 00:21:14,639 Speaker 1: you know, there's going to be now going to have 345 00:21:14,680 --> 00:21:17,639 Speaker 1: to be a tremendous, restably balancing of energy sourcing in 346 00:21:17,680 --> 00:21:21,359 Speaker 1: Europe and potentially in other markets in particular, that could 347 00:21:21,359 --> 00:21:25,080 Speaker 1: be a short term headwind for clean energy. On the 348 00:21:25,119 --> 00:21:28,400 Speaker 1: other hand, clean energy and in particular a bit more 349 00:21:28,440 --> 00:21:31,040 Speaker 1: efficient with how we use energy, bearing in mind that 350 00:21:31,080 --> 00:21:34,080 Speaker 1: we waste most of it. In a clean energy and 351 00:21:34,240 --> 00:21:38,200 Speaker 1: energy efficiency both very important parts as sustainable investment model. 352 00:21:38,560 --> 00:21:41,760 Speaker 1: I think you're going to be enormously important to the 353 00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:45,360 Speaker 1: economies of Europe and indeed of North American other markets. Yeah, 354 00:21:45,400 --> 00:21:51,120 Speaker 1: I can't. I can understand that, Um, you know, Americans 355 00:21:51,240 --> 00:21:53,639 Speaker 1: are going to want to drill, baby drill when they 356 00:21:53,680 --> 00:21:57,200 Speaker 1: see the price at the pump, and that Europeans are 357 00:21:57,200 --> 00:22:00,200 Speaker 1: going to be asking their leaders why on earth did 358 00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:03,720 Speaker 1: you make us so dependent on Russian gas? Um? And 359 00:22:03,720 --> 00:22:07,199 Speaker 1: you're gonna need to see restructuring due to that. But 360 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:11,440 Speaker 1: it seems to me clean energy just has a huge 361 00:22:11,480 --> 00:22:13,960 Speaker 1: tail wind. I mean, how many people are going to 362 00:22:14,040 --> 00:22:18,440 Speaker 1: want to be installing their own, um, you know, solar 363 00:22:18,480 --> 00:22:23,159 Speaker 1: panels and batteries, especially in Europe as they faced the 364 00:22:23,280 --> 00:22:27,479 Speaker 1: very real prospect of their power getting cut. Well, I mean, 365 00:22:27,600 --> 00:22:29,560 Speaker 1: I think there've been I agree with you, and I 366 00:22:29,560 --> 00:22:31,880 Speaker 1: think there are sort of three main drivers. And these 367 00:22:31,960 --> 00:22:34,760 Speaker 1: drivers by the way, I think affect the United States 368 00:22:34,840 --> 00:22:37,880 Speaker 1: as as well as affecting Europe, and the three main 369 00:22:37,960 --> 00:22:42,720 Speaker 1: drivers really have been about security, resilience, cost, and carbon 370 00:22:43,800 --> 00:22:46,760 Speaker 1: I think. And security in the United States has been 371 00:22:46,800 --> 00:22:51,280 Speaker 1: a longstanding factor. Of course, with with whether Superstorm Sandy 372 00:22:51,600 --> 00:22:54,919 Speaker 1: Louisiana and Texas last year, so you know whether severe 373 00:22:54,960 --> 00:22:57,399 Speaker 1: weather events have been big problems for energy resilience. But 374 00:22:57,440 --> 00:23:02,200 Speaker 1: of course now geopolitics has really crashed home here in Europe. 375 00:23:02,440 --> 00:23:06,120 Speaker 1: So decentralized energy, generating energy close to or right where 376 00:23:06,160 --> 00:23:11,720 Speaker 1: you need it, um you know, in decentralized cleaner solutions 377 00:23:11,800 --> 00:23:15,240 Speaker 1: incredibly important. Second of all, by decentralizing energy, bringing it 378 00:23:15,280 --> 00:23:17,960 Speaker 1: closer to where you need it, you lose less of 379 00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:21,239 Speaker 1: it in generating it and transmitting it and distributing it. 380 00:23:21,280 --> 00:23:23,399 Speaker 1: The way that we've built the global energy system is 381 00:23:23,440 --> 00:23:28,520 Speaker 1: generally supplying energy into a centralized system, it creates incredible losses. 382 00:23:28,840 --> 00:23:32,680 Speaker 1: There's an extraordinary number where we're probably wasting between sixty 383 00:23:32,840 --> 00:23:37,320 Speaker 1: and of the world energy somewhere through the points of generation, 384 00:23:37,400 --> 00:23:40,720 Speaker 1: transmission and distribution. So actually to start with generating it 385 00:23:40,720 --> 00:23:43,280 Speaker 1: closer to where you need it, it's more secure and 386 00:23:43,320 --> 00:23:46,480 Speaker 1: it's actually cheaper, and of course along with the loss 387 00:23:46,520 --> 00:23:50,840 Speaker 1: of wastage, it also produces pollution and carbon. So those 388 00:23:50,840 --> 00:23:53,879 Speaker 1: are really the three main drivers. You know, it's lower cost, 389 00:23:54,400 --> 00:23:57,440 Speaker 1: lower carbon, more resilient energy solutions, and that's really what 390 00:23:57,480 --> 00:24:01,400 Speaker 1: we drive out with regards to sustainable energy investing, lower cost, 391 00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:04,760 Speaker 1: lower carbon, more reliable, more secure sources of energy supply. 392 00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:07,320 Speaker 1: So Johnson, give us an example of maybe a recent 393 00:24:07,359 --> 00:24:09,399 Speaker 1: investment you've made that kind of maybe goes to some 394 00:24:09,480 --> 00:24:13,280 Speaker 1: of those issues. Yeah. So, I mean in the United States, 395 00:24:13,359 --> 00:24:17,159 Speaker 1: we have the portfolios of solar and storage investments that 396 00:24:17,240 --> 00:24:20,480 Speaker 1: we've made where we're generating energy solar power combined with 397 00:24:20,560 --> 00:24:24,480 Speaker 1: storage on rooftops, carports, ground mount where we can link 398 00:24:24,520 --> 00:24:28,760 Speaker 1: it directly into end buildings and its dramatically reduces cost 399 00:24:28,800 --> 00:24:31,920 Speaker 1: and carbon. We've got in the United States investments where 400 00:24:31,920 --> 00:24:36,080 Speaker 1: we're recycling what would otherwise be pollution, so blast furnace 401 00:24:36,119 --> 00:24:38,600 Speaker 1: gases coming off with steel mills and using those as 402 00:24:38,640 --> 00:24:42,680 Speaker 1: the fuel to generate power and steam back for the 403 00:24:42,480 --> 00:24:46,119 Speaker 1: for the steel facilities. In Europe we have on site 404 00:24:46,160 --> 00:24:53,119 Speaker 1: generation using natural gas, bio gas, um in in due course, hydrogen, 405 00:24:53,520 --> 00:24:57,480 Speaker 1: ground and air source heat, solar, All of these technologies 406 00:24:57,520 --> 00:25:01,360 Speaker 1: can dramatically reduce the amount of cost and carbon involved 407 00:25:01,400 --> 00:25:04,720 Speaker 1: with generating energy, as well as increasing the energy security 408 00:25:04,760 --> 00:25:08,000 Speaker 1: that's on the supply side. On the demand side, change 409 00:25:08,040 --> 00:25:12,320 Speaker 1: the way that buildings, industry transport use energy. Seventy of 410 00:25:12,359 --> 00:25:15,200 Speaker 1: the worlds energy is used in buildings, industry and transport. 411 00:25:15,280 --> 00:25:17,840 Speaker 1: Most people think about energy as the grids think about 412 00:25:17,840 --> 00:25:21,439 Speaker 1: the end user. The buildings industry and transport can use 413 00:25:21,480 --> 00:25:25,240 Speaker 1: better lights, better heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and of course, 414 00:25:25,280 --> 00:25:28,639 Speaker 1: electrification of cars is a much more efficient way of 415 00:25:28,720 --> 00:25:36,160 Speaker 1: driving cars efficient compared to oil from a well efficient Jonathan, 416 00:25:36,200 --> 00:25:38,320 Speaker 1: thank you so much for joining us. Always love talking 417 00:25:38,320 --> 00:25:42,680 Speaker 1: about sustainable investment. Lots of opportunities out there. Jonathan Maxwell, 418 00:25:42,840 --> 00:25:47,960 Speaker 1: CEO and co founder of Sustainable Development Capital. Thanks for 419 00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:51,520 Speaker 1: listening to the Bloomberg Markets podcast. You can subscribe and 420 00:25:51,560 --> 00:25:55,600 Speaker 1: listen to interviews of Apple Podcasts or whatever podcast platform 421 00:25:55,640 --> 00:25:58,960 Speaker 1: you prefer. I'm Matt Miller. I'm on Twitter at Matt 422 00:25:59,040 --> 00:26:01,960 Speaker 1: Miller nine seven twenty three and on false Sweeney I'm 423 00:26:01,960 --> 00:26:04,600 Speaker 1: on Twitter at pt Sweeney. Before the podcast, you can 424 00:26:04,640 --> 00:26:06,880 Speaker 1: always catch us worldwide at Bloomberg Radio