Carlyle CEO shares investment tips with Korean retail investors

The head of The Carlyle Group met with Korean retail investors in a rare session on Thursday, sharing insights on the US economy and global credit markets during a visit to Seoul.

It was the first time that mom-and-pop investors in South Korea had a face-to-face meeting with Carlyle Chief Executive Harvey M. Schwartz, according to Korea Investment & Securities Co., which hosted the meeting.

At the private event, Schwartz discussed the mid- and long-term outlook for the US economy, trends in the global private equity fund market and credit investment strategies.

On the US economy, he said the world’s largest economy remains an attractive investment destination despite lingering uncertainties, which he noted present both risks and opportunities.

He also emphasized that Korea is one of the most important investment markets in Asia.

Also attending the session were Jeff Nedelman, global head of Carlyle’s Client Business, Lee Soo-yong (Sean), head of Carlyle’s Asia Corporate Strategy and Korea Investment & Securities CEO Kim Sung-hwan, who is credited for facilitating the session as part of his broader push into global markets.  

Korea Investment & Securities, a brokerage unit of Korea Investment Holdings Co., has been in a strategic alliance with the US investment giant since 2023.

Under the partnership, the Korean securities company holds exclusive rights to distribute Carlyle’s global credit products worth around $4 billion annually.

Together, the two firms had offered public funds for collateralized loan obligation (CLO) investment valued at 150 billion won ($109 million) in total over the past two years. CLOs are structured investment products typically backed by a pool of loans.

Founded in 1987, The Carlyle Group is one of the world’s largest multinational investment firms, managing $453 billion in assets as of the end of the first quarter of 2025. It is also the largest CLO manager in North America.

Korea Investment & Securities CEO Kim said at the meeting that the company will continue developing innovative global financial products through its extensive international network, including partners like The Carlyle Group.

Write to Sookyung Seo at skseo@hankyung.com

Jennifer Nicholson-Breen edited this article.