Unlocking Value Across Public and Private Credit 

QUARTERLY
MARKET OUTLOOK
Q4 2024

OUR
FUNDS

INVESTMENT
APPROACH

Heritage

Nomura is a global financial services group with an integrated network spanning approximately 30 countries and regions. By connecting markets East & West, we service the needs of individuals, institutions, corporates and governments through our three business divisions: Wealth Management, Investment Management and Wholesale (Global Markets and Investment Banking).

Nomura traces its origins back to the late 1800s when Tokushichi Nomura I set up a money changing business in Osaka. Tokushichi’s son, Tokushichi Nomura II, would later take over his father’s business and in 1925 founded Nomura Securities with 84 employees.

Guided by the principle of “putting the customer first” set out at our founding, Nomura has grown into a leading financial services group with a global network spanning over 30 countries.

Nomura Capital Management LLC (NCM) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nomura Holding America Inc., which belongs to the global financial services group founded in Japan nearly a century ago.

Leadership

Robert StarkChief Executive Officer, NCM

Robert Stark
Robert Stark is the CEO of Nomura Capital Management LLC (NCM) and Head of Investment Management in the Americas for the Nomura Group. Robert has more than 20 years of financial services industry experience. Previously, Robert was the Founder & CEO of Alterum Capital Partners LLC, where he focused on building an investment management business with a particular emphasis on the intersection of private markets and Registered Investment Advisors. Prior to founding Alterum Capital Partners, he was a Senior Managing Director and member of the Executive Committee at FS Investments and was responsible for Corporate Development. Prior to joining FS Investments, Robert spent 7 years at J.P. Morgan across its Asset & Wealth Management businesses. He initially ran Strategy and Business Development for both Asset & Wealth Management and later ran Global Strategic Relationships (National Accounts) for the US Funds business. He joined J.P. Morgan from Russell Investments where he was a member of the Executive Committee and responsible for Strategy and M&A. Robert started his professional career at McKinsey & Company. As a partner of the firm, he focused on serving clients in the asset management, investment banking, insurance, and private equity industries. He was also responsible as the Global Sponsor for the financial institutions research group comprising 150 practitioners globally. Robert earned a Master of Science in Management Sciences from the University of Cologne, Germany.
Robert Stark
Chief Executive Officer, NCM

Matthew PallaiChief Investment Officer, NCM

Matthew Pallai
Matthew Pallai is the Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of NCM. Matthew has over 19 years of financial services industry experience. Before joining Nomura, he was a Co-founder and CIO of Alterum Capital Partners LLC, where he focused on building an investment management business with a particular emphasis on the intersection of private markets and the advisor community. Prior to co-founding Alterum Capital Partners, he was an Executive Vice President at Harbor Capital Advisers, where, as Head of Multi Asset Solutions, he led the build-out of a new team and investment capability and served as a member of the Management Committee. Matthew began his career and spent 17 years at J.P. Morgan Asset Management as a portfolio manager focused on security selection, global market dynamics, asset allocation, and portfolio construction on a range of strategies across Securitized Products, Multi-Sector Fixed Income, and Multi Asset Solutions. Most recently, he was an Executive Director within Multi Asset Solutions, serving as a co-manager on a suite of Multi Asset Income strategies and Head of the Advisory Portfolio Solutions investment team. Before moving into the Multi-Asset space, Matthew spent 14 years as a portfolio manager in the Global Fixed Income, Currency & Commodity group, co-managing a suite of Multi Sector Unconstrained Fixed Income portfolios (income oriented, total return, and absolute return), and had lead responsibility for the securitized products investments within these strategies. Previously, he held portfolio management positions on both the Agency and Non-Agency Mortgage (RMBS) Teams. Matthew holds a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics from Boston College and a Master of Arts in economics from New York University.
Matthew Pallai
Chief Investment Officer, NCM

David CrallChief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, NCRAM

David Crall
David Crall, CFA, is the President, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Investment Officer (CIO), and a Managing Director with NCRAM. He is also a member of NCRAM’s Board of Directors. Mr. Crall became President and CEO of NCRAM in June 2019, and in this capacity he is responsible for the firm’s overall management and business strategy. In addition, as CIO since January 2010, he leads the investment activities and investment team of NCRAM. He is the Chair of NCRAM’s Management Oversight, Investment, New Product, Risk Monitoring, and ESG Committees. Previously, he was a portfolio manager and co-head of the high yield bond team at NCRAM, encompassing primarily high yield bonds but also public-side management of loans and distressed investments, since 2000. Prior to that, he was a portfolio manager of various high yield accounts at NCRAM since 1997, and an analyst in the high yield group at NCRAM for various industries since 1992. Mr. Crall received his B.A. in English from Yale University in 1992. He is a CFA® charterholder, a member of the CFA institute, and a member of the New York Society of Security Analysts.
David Crall
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, NCRAM

Matthew NelsonChief Operating Officer, NCM

Matthew Nelson
Matthew Nelson is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of NCM. Matthew has over 18 years of financial services industry experience. Before joining Nomura, he was a Director of Distribution Data Services, leading client data management and strategy for OppenheimerFunds and Invesco for four years. He oversaw ongoing data demands from global business partners, data governance facilitation, data analysis build-out, and overall data integration roadmap. Matthew partnered with business and technology leaders across the globe to rationalize and align on a comprehensive data demand strategy and execution plan post the acquisition of OppenheimerFunds by Invesco. Before joining OppenheimerFunds, Matthew spent 14 years at J.P. Morgan. His final 12 years were spent as an Executive Director in the Alternative Investments Middle Office in the Private Bank. Matthew oversaw all client aspects of investments in hedge funds, private equity, and real estate offerings on the platform from initial subscription/commitment to capital events, valuations, corporate actions, transfers, redemptions and wind downs for the client holdings. Matthew implemented multiple strategic risk mitigation and efficiency platforms in his time at J.P. Morgan, including a cohesive and automated private equity support platform. Matthew holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Management from University of Delaware.
Matthew Nelson
Chief Operating Officer, NCM
Steve SchlowHead of Intermediary Distribution, NCM
Steve Schlow
Steven Schlow, CFA, is the Head of Intermediary Distribution for NCM, where he oversees all sales, marketing, and distribution efforts nationally. Steven has over 20 years of distribution expertise across all channels. Prior to joining Nomura, Steven was the National Sales Manager in the Regional and Community Bank Channel of Vanguard’s Financial Advisor Services Division. Prior to that, he was a part of the leadership team responsible for leading Vanguard’s distribution and client service efforts within the Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) channel. Before joining Vanguard, he was a Director and the Head of Independent Broker-Dealer (IBD) and RIA sales at Guggenheim Investments. He oversaw the distribution efforts within the IBD and RIA channels nationally for all Guggenheim Investments products. Before Guggenheim, Steven was a Marketing Manager for Harding Loevner, a New Jersey-based asset manager, focused on global, international, and emerging markets equity portfolios. While at Harding, he helped build and strengthen relationships and distribution efforts within the RIA, family office, and consultant channels. Steven has also held roles in the Portfolio Advisory Group at Lehman Brothers, the Intermediary Distribution Team at Neuberger Berman, and The Private Client Group of AllianceBernstein. Steven earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He is a CFA charter holder and a member of the New York Society of Securities Analysts.
Steve Schlow
Head of Intermediary Distribution, NCM

Alla BabikovaHead of Institutional Distribution, NCM

Alla Babikova
Alla leads the institutional sales team. In addition she is responsible for coverage of the North-East and Mid-West regions. Alla joined Nomura Asset Management U.S.A. Inc in 2011 and has covered a number of strategies, including high yield, equities, hedge funds, etc. Prior to Nomura, she worked in marketing/client services capacity at Paradigm Global Advisors and Waterford Partners. Alla started her finance career on the equity sales desk at Renaissance Capital in Moscow, Russia. She has 25 years of experience working for various institutions including investment banks, hedge funds and fund of funds with the focus on marketing and business development. Alla has an BA in French and English from the State University of Foreign Languages of Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. She holds Series 7 and 63 licenses.
Alla Babikova
Head of Institutional Distribution, NCM

Petek PekgozHead of Marketing, NCM

Petek Pekgoz
Petek is the Head of Marketing for Nomura Capital Management leading brand, digital, content, design, communications, events and analytics. Originally from Istanbul, she has 20 years of marketing experience across numerous roles on Wall Street. Most recently, she was Global Head of Digital at Lazard Asset Management for 6 years responsible for the digital presence of the firm globally. Prior to that, she served in numerous marketing leadership roles at JP Morgan Asset Management managing digital analytics and marketing campaigns for 3 years, and at Citigroup managing client analytics and event marketing for 8 years. Petek holds a bachelor degree in Economics from University of Virginia, and a Master of Science degree in Marketing from New York University. She is personally much invested in diversity and mentorship.
Petek Pekgoz
Head of Marketing, NCM

Neil DanieleHead of Compliance, NCM

Neil Daniele
Neil joined Nomura in 2002. In addition to serving as the Chief Compliance Officer of NCRAM, he also serves as CCO for Nomura Asset Management U.S.A. Inc. His career in asset management began in 1983 serving in various roles within asset management, including transfer agency, distribution, fund administration and internal audit. From 2001 to 2002, Neil was Vice President and Compliance Officer of Munich Re Capital Management Corp. Prior to that position, he was a Compliance Officer from 1996 to 2001 at AIG Global Investment Group, Inc. Neil holds an M.B.A. from Hofstra School of Business and a B.B.A. from Hofstra University. He also holds FINRA licenses Series 7, 24 and 63.
Neil Daniele
Head of Compliance, NCM

Yuichi NomotoChief Executive Officer, NAM USA

Yuichi Nomota
Mr. Nomoto is President and Chief Executive Officer of Nomura Asset Management U.S.A Inc. following his appointment in April 2019. He is also on the Board of Directors of Nomura Corporate Research and Asset Management Inc. Mr. Nomoto began his career at Nomura in 1995 in the Investment Information Department. From 2001 to 2005, he was a Manager in the Product Planning then Retail Marketing Departments at Nomura Asset Management Co., Ltd. and Nomura BlackRock Asset Management Co., Ltd., respectively. Mr. Nomoto was a Senior Marketing Executive from 2005 to 2007 in the Financial Institution Marketing Department at Nomura Asset Management Co., Ltd. From 2007 to 2010, Mr. Nomoto worked in the U.S.A. Inc., first with Nomura Corporate Research and Asset Management Inc. and then with Nomura Asset Management U.S.A. Inc. as Director of the Japan Marketing Team. He returned to Nomura Asset Management Co., Ltd. from 2010 to 2016 as a Senior Manager and Head of various Departments, including the Marketing Planning Team in Product Marketing, NISA Project Team in Retail Clients Strategy, and Investment Trust Marketing. Mr. Nomoto joined Nomura Asset Management U.S.A. Inc. in 2016 as an Executive Director and Head of Client Services and Marketing, and was promoted to Managing Director in 2018. Mr. Nomoto has 24 years of financial, client service, and product marketing experience. He graduated from Waseda University in 1995 with a B.A. in Commerce.
Yuichi Nomoto
Chief Executive Officer,
NAM USA

Investment Approach

Nomura Capital Management LLC (NCM) is a Credit manager navigating the spectrum of public and private debt for intermediary and institutional clients. Nomura has over 30 years of experience in the credit markets. Our focus on seeking attractive risk adjusted returns and our devotion to the preservation of capital permeates each of our unique strategies and products that we manage. At the core of our investment philosophy sits an engine driven by fundamental credit research and a robust ability to assess relative value across the global credit markets. Our investment led organization and client first mindset allows us to form deep relationships that expand beyond our products and into lasting partnerships.

Our Funds

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NCRAM

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Perspectives and Insights

Quarterly Market Outlook
Q4 2024

The Rise of
Asset-Based Lending

Introduction to
Private Credit

Contact Us

Nomura Capital Management LLC
Worldwide Plaza, 309 West 49th Street
New York, NY 10019
+1 (212) 667-9996
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