In this episode, Chris speaks with Michael Petro, portfolio manager of the Putnam BDC Income ETF.  He is responsible for the overall strategy and positioning of Putnam’s small-cap value and BDC (business development company) capabilities. Mr. Petro joined Putnam in 2002 and has been in the investment industry since 1999.

 During the conversation, they touch on many topics, including: 

• What is a Business Development Company (BDC)
• How BDCs are structured
• Why BDCs are compelling investment opportunities
• The current BDC landscape
• How BDCs have held up historically during market volatility
• The benefits and risks of BDCs

This material is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a recommendation of any specific investment product, strategy, or decision, and is not intended to suggest taking or refraining from any course of action. It is not intended to address the needs, circumstances, and objectives of any specific investor. This information is not meant as tax or legal advice. Investors should consult a professional advisor before making investment and financial decisions and for more information on tax rules and other laws, which are complex and subject to change.

For informational purposes only. Not an investment recommendation. 

Return on Equity (ROE) is a measure of a corporation's profitability that reveals how much profit a company generates with the money shareholders have invested.

Hurdle rate is a minimum rate of return on an investment required by a manager or investor. In this case, it is before Barings earns a fee.

Consider these risks before investing: Business development companies (BDCs) generally invest in less mature U.S. private companies or thinly traded U.S. public companies, which involves greater risk than well-established publicly traded companies. The fund will be sensitive to, and its performance will depend to a greater extent on, the overall condition of the financials sector.

The use of leverage by BDCs magnifies gains and losses on amounts invested and increases the risks associated with investing in BDCs. A BDC may make investments with greater risk of volatility and loss of principal than other investment options and may also be highly speculative and aggressive. Certain BDCs may also be difficult to value since many of the assets of BDCs do not have readily ascertainable market values. 

As a non-diversified fund, the fund invests in fewer issuers and is more vulnerable than a more broadly diversified fund to fluctuations in the values of the securities it holds. Our investment techniques, analyses, and judgments may not produce the outcome we intend. The investments we select for the fund may not perform as well as other securities that we do not select for the fund. We, or the fund’s other service providers, may experience disruptions or operating errors that could have a negative effect on the fund. You can lose money by investing in the fund.