Key Takeaways
- • Chicago Atlantic, an alternatives investment manager focused on niche markets, announced the launch of its Emerging Markets Private Credit strategy, targeting high-growth markets across Latin America, Asia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
- • The strategy will provide senior secured loans, structured credit, and asset-backed financing to strategically important and government-linked companies and agencies in emerging economies.
- • The platform is led by Emerging Markets veterans Peter Marber, Ph.D. and Jim Garvey, CFA, and overseen by Chicago Atlantic Partner Scott Gordon.
- • Chicago Atlantic positions the strategy to attract institutional investors seeking yield, diversification, and exposure to structurally growing economies, citing bank retrenchment and growing demand for non-dilutive capital as drivers of opportunity.
Summary
Chicago Atlantic has announced the launch of an Emerging Markets Private Credit strategy, according to a Business Wire release datelined Chicago. The alternatives investment manager, which focuses on niche markets, said the strategy will extend its private credit capabilities into high-growth markets across Latin America, Asia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
The strategy will concentrate on senior secured loans, structured credit, and asset-backed financing for strategically important and government-linked companies and agencies in emerging economies. The firm said the approach aims to address a persistent capital gap for high-quality borrowers seeking flexible, relationship-driven financing. Management emphasized capital preservation, downside protection, disciplined underwriting, strong collateral packages, and structured protections, along with strong corporate governance and robust risk controls.
The team will be led by Peter Marber, Ph.D., and Jim Garvey, CFA, both described as Emerging Markets veterans. Marber previously headed EM businesses at UBS, HSBC, and Loomis Sayles, and 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 has more than three decades of EM experience, including managing portfolios at Emso Asset Management and heading Latin American distressed and illiquid trading at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. The business will be overseen by Chicago Atlantic Partner Scott Gordon, who previously held EM roles at JP Morgan, ING Bank, Bank of America's Global Special Situations Group, Marathon, Caxton, Taconic, and Fintech Advisory. Umesh Mahajan, Bill Healy, CAIA, and Jack Flaherty will also join the dedicated EM team, which will draw on Chicago Atlantic's sourcing network, operational expertise, and institutional investor relationships.
Chicago Atlantic Partner Tony Cappell 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." The firm expects the strategy to attract institutional investors seeking yield, portfolio diversification, and exposure to structurally growing economies. Chicago Atlantic was founded in 2018, has over 100 professionals with offices in Chicago, Miami, New York, and London, and says it has deployed over $3.3 billion in private loans across more than 185 transactions on behalf of approximately 1,000 investors. The release did not disclose a target fund size or fundraising figures.
The strategy will concentrate on senior secured loans, structured credit, and asset-backed financing for strategically important and government-linked companies and agencies in emerging economies. The firm said the approach aims to address a persistent capital gap for high-quality borrowers seeking flexible, relationship-driven financing. Management emphasized capital preservation, downside protection, disciplined underwriting, strong collateral packages, and structured protections, along with strong corporate governance and robust risk controls.
The team will be led by Peter Marber, Ph.D., and Jim Garvey, CFA, both described as Emerging Markets veterans. Marber previously headed EM businesses at UBS, HSBC, and Loomis Sayles, and 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 has more than three decades of EM experience, including managing portfolios at Emso Asset Management and heading Latin American distressed and illiquid trading at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. The business will be overseen by Chicago Atlantic Partner Scott Gordon, who previously held EM roles at JP Morgan, ING Bank, Bank of America's Global Special Situations Group, Marathon, Caxton, Taconic, and Fintech Advisory. Umesh Mahajan, Bill Healy, CAIA, and Jack Flaherty will also join the dedicated EM team, which will draw on Chicago Atlantic's sourcing network, operational expertise, and institutional investor relationships.
Chicago Atlantic Partner Tony Cappell 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." The firm expects the strategy to attract institutional investors seeking yield, portfolio diversification, and exposure to structurally growing economies. Chicago Atlantic was founded in 2018, has over 100 professionals with offices in Chicago, Miami, New York, and London, and says it has deployed over $3.3 billion in private loans across more than 185 transactions on behalf of approximately 1,000 investors. The release did not disclose a target fund size or fundraising figures.
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