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Absolute Credit Series

Absolute Credit Series

Kirkland & Ellis LLP 11 Episodes Aug 17, 2026

Absolute Credit is a podcast from Kirkland & Ellis’ Structured Capital & Insurance Solutions Team. Each episode features conversations between industry leaders and experienced professionals who examine market trends and developments. The show is designed to provide practical insights for investors and fund managers active in the structured capital space. Discussions focus on credit, investment strategies, and opportunities within this specialized sector.

Episodes

It Takes Three to Tango: Reinsurance Transactions in the Modern Investment Landscape
It Takes Three to Tango: Reinsurance Transactions in the Modern Investment Landscape Aug 17, 2026 00:27:08 In this episode of the Absolute Credit series, Kirkland partners Lindsay Trapp, Rajab Abbassi and Jeremy Watson unpack the modern reinsurance market and the increasing integration of insurance and asset management. The conversation breaks down how insurers use reinsurance to transfer risk and manage liabilities, the mechanics of collateral and trust structures, and the role asset managers play in
Beyond Borders: Structuring Rated Funds and CFOs for Non-U.S. Investors
Beyond Borders: Structuring Rated Funds and CFOs for Non-U.S. Investors Aug 6, 2026 00:24:33 In this episode of the Absolute Credit series, Kirkland partners Lindsay Trapp, Kate Luarasi and Meredith Levy explore key tax considerations for non-U.S. investors participating in rated fund and CFO structures. The conversation examines how effectively connected income, withholding tax and instrument characterization can affect investor returns, as well as the structural and regulatory challenge
How Fitch is Rethinking Risk in a Changing Fund Landscape
How Fitch is Rethinking Risk in a Changing Fund Landscape Jun 29, 2026 00:46:26 In this episode of Absolute Credit, Kirkland partners Lindsay Trapp and Kate Luarasi are joined by Fitch Ratings Global Head of Fund & Asset Management Greg Fayvilevich to address the growing role of ratings across the rapidly evolving fund finance market. The conversation covers Fitch’s recent updates to its CFO rating methodology, including enhancements to better assess GP-led structures, po
Unlocking Liquidity at Scale: CFOs and Continuation Vehicles Coming Together to Open the Door to New Investors
Unlocking Liquidity at Scale: CFOs and Continuation Vehicles Coming Together to Open the Door to New Investors Jun 15, 2026 00:25:02 In this episode of Absolute Credit, Kirkland partners Lindsay Trapp, Jared Axelrod, Mark Boyagi and Sean Hill discuss how CFO structures are being used alongside continuation vehicles (CVs) to unlock new pathways to liquidity, scale transactions and expand the investor universe. From GP and LP stakes to credit portfolios, the conversation highlights real-world applications, emerging hybrid structu
Private Credit Has Grown Up — Moody's on What Comes Next
Private Credit Has Grown Up — Moody's on What Comes Next May 6, 2026 00:29:33 In this episode of the Absolute Credit series, Kirkland partner Lindsay Trapp is joined by Global Head of Private Credit Marc Pinto of Moody’s Ratings to discuss key trends shaping the private credit and fund finance markets. They explore the continued growth in demand for ratings across fund finance products, the expansion of private credit into new asset classes and geographies, and the increasi
Regulatory Relief & Tax Alpha: Why Insurance-Dedicated Funds Are Gaining Ground
Regulatory Relief & Tax Alpha: Why Insurance-Dedicated Funds Are Gaining Ground Apr 6, 2026 00:22:50 In this episode of the Absolute Credit video series, Kirkland partners Lindsay Trapp, Bruce Gelman and Kate Luarasi discuss insurance-dedicated funds (IDFs) as an increasingly important capital-raising tool for accessing insurance company, high-net-worth and institutional capital. They explain how IDFs can be deployed alongside existing fund strategies to support platform growth, the tax and regul
Risk Retention Roundup
Risk Retention Roundup Feb 19, 2026 00:25:21 In episode five of the Absolute Credit series, partners Lindsay Trapp, Jared Axelrod and Michael Urschel provide a comprehensive refresher on the U.S. risk retention rule. They review its origins in the Dodd-Frank Act, discuss the impact of the LSTA court decision on CLOs, and explore how self-liquidating financial assets and sponsor definitions affect compliance. The discussion also covers the ap
CFO 2.0 How Collateralized Fund Obligations Became the Hottest Ticket in Town
CFO 2.0 How Collateralized Fund Obligations Became the Hottest Ticket in Town Feb 10, 2026 00:25:25 In episode four of the Absolute Credit video series, partners Lindsay Trapp and Jared Axelrod cover collateralized fund obligations’ (CFOs) evolution in the private credit and fund finance markets. They examine how asset mix, cash flow generation and liquidity mechanics shape these deals, and discuss ratings and regulatory considerations as CFOs become increasingly popular hybrid financing tools a
Rated Funds & CFOs 2025 Update
Rated Funds & CFOs 2025 Update Dec 29, 2025 00:37:52 In episode three of the Absolute Credit video series, partner Lindsay Trapp is joined by KBRA Chief Rating Officer Bill Cox to discuss key developments in the rated funds, feeder note and CFO markets. They explore the rapid growth and increasing complexity of rated fund and CFO structures, expanding asset classes and geographies, the rise of evergreen and perpetual vehicles, and how KBRA evaluates
Trends in CLO Equity
Trends in CLO Equity Dec 2, 2025 00:10:05 In episode two of the Absolute Credit video series, Kirkland partners Lindsay Trapp and Jared Axelrod break down current dynamics in the CLO equity market, noting increased third-party equity activity at the warehouse stage, continued reliance on joint venture and multi-deal capital arrangements, and the growing importance of manager-originator structures amid evolving EU risk-retention rules. The
Recent Trends in Rated Note Funds
Recent Trends in Rated Note Funds Nov 21, 2025 00:37:26 In this inaugural episode of our Absolute Credit series, Kirkland partners Lindsay Trapp and Kate Luarasi dive into the evolving world of rated fund structures, exploring the key differences between vertical and horizontal structures, the rise of new investor types, and the challenges that come with the attendant complexity, including MFNs and funding mismatches. They share insights on how these i

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