Blog

INVESTING INSIGHTS
AT WILLIAM BLAIR

October 25, 2021 | Emerging Markets Debt
Emerging Markets Debt: Higher Risk Premiums, Yields

Head of William Blair’s Emerging Markets Debt Team, Portfolio Manager

Marcelo Assalin, CFA, partner, is the head of William Blair’s emerging markets debt team, on which he also serves as a portfolio manager. He is also a member of William Blair Investment Management’s leadership team. Before joining William Blair, Marcelo was head of EMD at NN Investment Partners, a role he began in 2015, and lead portfolio manager for blended debt portfolios. Previously, he was the lead portfolio manager for NNIP’s local currency strategies. Before joining NNIP in 2013, Marcelo was a senior EMD portfolio manager and head of emerging market sovereign debt and local currency at ING IM USA (now Voya Financial). Before that, he worked in various capacities, including CIO from 2005 to 2008, at SulAmerica Investimentos. Marcelo began his career as a credit analyst at Bank Boston in Sao Paulo, covering Brazilian companies. Marcelo received a B.A. in business administration & accounting from the University of São Paulo.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Emerging markets debt is under-represented in global fixed-income portfolios. As a result, it’s an asset class that tends to display higher risk premiums and higher yields.

Watch the video or read the recap below.


Some investors associate emerging markets debt with something very risky, very exotic.

The asset class has evolved tremendously over the years. Today, it represents over 25% of the global fixed-income universe, spanning over 90 countries with more than 900 issuers and a combined market capitalization of $4.5 trillion.

Yet, the asset class that is still underappreciated, still under-represented in global fixed-income indices, in global fixed-income portfolios. And because of that, it’s an asset class that tends to display higher risk premiums, higher yields.

We strongly believe that emerging markets debt offers a very attractive investment opportunity—it offers significant diversification benefits.

We believe that the structural risk premium in emerging markets debt overcompensates investors for credit risks and volatility.

We believe that the structural risk premium in emerging markets debt overcompensates investors for credit risks and volatility.

Historically, credit default rates in emerging markets debt have been very low and recovery values very high. Therefore, we believe there is a strong disconnect between risks and perception of risks when it comes to investing in emerging markets countries.

Valuations are attractive. Credit spreads are still above long-term averages, especially within the higher-yielding part of the market, especially in frontier markets debt, that currently look very favorably versus credit spreads in other parts of the credit market.

We have a very constructive outlook for emerging markets debt.

We have a very constructive outlook for emerging markets debt.

The fundamental landscape has improved as the global economy recovers. We are living in a very ample liquidity condition environment, and multilateral support has been very strong for emerging markets countries.

Going forward, we believe that a positive combination of improving fundamentals, ample and affordable financing conditions, and attractive valuations will continue underpinning the performance of emerging markets debt.

Read More

Demystifying Emerging Markets Debt

Marcelo Assalin, CFA, is a portfolio manager on and head of William Blair’s Emerging Markets Debt team.

Head of William Blair’s Emerging Markets Debt Team, Portfolio Manager

Marcelo Assalin, CFA, partner, is the head of William Blair’s emerging markets debt team, on which he also serves as a portfolio manager. He is also a member of William Blair Investment Management’s leadership team. Before joining William Blair, Marcelo was head of EMD at NN Investment Partners, a role he began in 2015, and lead portfolio manager for blended debt portfolios. Previously, he was the lead portfolio manager for NNIP’s local currency strategies. Before joining NNIP in 2013, Marcelo was a senior EMD portfolio manager and head of emerging market sovereign debt and local currency at ING IM USA (now Voya Financial). Before that, he worked in various capacities, including CIO from 2005 to 2008, at SulAmerica Investimentos. Marcelo began his career as a credit analyst at Bank Boston in Sao Paulo, covering Brazilian companies. Marcelo received a B.A. in business administration & accounting from the University of São Paulo.

Related Posts

Subscribe Now

Want the latest insights on the economy and other forces shaping the investment landscape? Subscribe to our blog today.

Left Menu Icon
 

Subscribe to Our Blog Now

Want the latest insights on the economy and other forces shaping the investment landscape? Subscribe to our blog today.

SIGN UP