Chicago Atlantic, an alternatives investment manager focused on niche markets, launched its emerging markets private credit strategy, which is expected to expand the firm’s private credit capabilities into high-growth markets across Latin America, Asia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Focusing on senior secured loans, structured credit and asset-backed financing solutions to strategically important and government-linked companies and agencies in emerging economies, the new strategy aims to address a persistent capital gap for borrowers seeking flexible, relationship-driven financing solutions and will emphasize capital preservation, downside protection and disciplined underwriting, with a focus on strong collateral packages and structured protections.
The new effort will be led by two emerging market (EM) veterans, Peter Marber and Jim Garvey. The business will be overseen by Chicago Atlantic partner, Scott Gordon, who also brings a wealth of EM investing expertise.
Early in his career, Gordon was one of the founding members of the emerging markets business at JP Morgan. He later led the EM platform at ING Bank, and the global special situations group at Bank of America before migrating to the buy side where he held senior leadership roles at Marathon, Caxton, Taconic and Fintech Advisory. The dedicated EM team will be joined by seasoned Chicago Atlantic staff including Umesh Mahajan, Bill Healy and Jack Flaherty, who collectively have decades of extensive EM experience. The team will leverage Chicago Atlantic’s broader platform, including its sourcing network, operational expertise and institutional investor relationships.
“Emerging markets present a compelling opportunity for private credit investors,” Tony Cappell, partner of Chicago Atlantic, said. “Bank retrenchment, regulatory constraints and growing demand for non-dilutive capital have created a significant opportunity for experienced private credit managers to deliver attractive risk-adjusted returns while supporting the growth of high-quality businesses.”
Marber, who also worked with Gordon previously, said “There’s a structural opportunity in these fast-growing markets, and I’m excited to work with Scott, Jim and others at Chicago Atlantic to expand their private credit offerings.”
In addition to heading EM businesses at UBS, HSBC, and Loomis Sayles, Marber is an award-winning money manager and distinguished thought leader who has taught at Harvard, Columbia, NYU and Johns Hopkins. He has also been a long-time director of EMTA, the Trade Association for Emerging Markets.
Garvey, too, has more than three decades’ experience in EM. In addition to having managed portfolios at Emso Asset Management, Garvey was a managing director and headed Latin American distressed and illiquid trading for Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Over the course of his career, Garvey has held trading and research positions at Santander, Bancomer, ABN Amro, and Smith Barney, among others.
“It’s great to work with Scott Gordon and Peter again, both emerging market veterans whom I hold in high esteem,” Garvey said.
Chicago Atlantic expects its new EM strategy to attract institutional investors seeking yield, portfolio diversification and exposure to structurally growing economies, while focusing on strong corporate governance and robust risk controls.
