Issue 4 2019

52 Acquisition International - Issue 4 2019 Nov18827 AppleTree Capital LLP is an awarded independent financial advisor, specializing in Emerging Markets and Absolute Return strategies. Recently, we profiled the firm and spoke to Managing Directors, Michael Nicoletos and Dimitris Apistoulas who provided us with a detailed insight into the inner-workings of the award-winning company. Aligning Interests stablished in 2010, AppleTree Capital was launched by its two founding partners, Michael Nicoletos and Dimitris Apistoulas. Prior to AppleTree, the two co-founders worked together in Greece’s top broker (EFG Eurobank Securities) covering Eastern Europe and advising institutional investors and high net worth individuals. Following the Lehman events of 2008, the two co-founders, who had identified many of the early signs of the impending crisis and advised their clients accordingly, decided to launch their own asset management company. After six years of successful operations and a record year in 2015 (net return of AppleTree Capital’s flagship fund: +35%), AppleTree Capital moved its HQ to London embarking in a new effort to diversify its portfolio of products and gain critical mass. “Here at AppleTree Capital, we focus primarily on Emerging Europe, a niche part of the Emerging Markets world, which is often overlooked by the traditional Emerging Markets funds.” The two founding partners, with a joint experience of more than 30 years in research and investing recognize the challenges of successful investing and the volatility that this entails. “Emerging Markets have tremendous potential and equally interesting challenges,” Michael and Dimitris argue. “AppleTree Capital’s core mission is to deliver superior risk-adjusted returns for investors who place their trust in us to navigate their investments while adopting best industry standards. This is ensured by our commitment to transparency and by cooperating with renowned business partners in every step of the way.” “AppleTree Capital’s core mission is to deliver superior risk-adjusted returns for investors who place their trust in us to navigate their investments while adopting best industry standards. This is ensured by our commitment to transparency and by cooperating with renowned business partners in every step of the way.” The founding partners shared their experience during the early days when they were trying to set up their own asset management company in the aftermath of the global financial crisis. “Many of our potential investors had suffered during the financial crisis as they were caught into products or fund structures that failed to protect or to provide them with adequate transparency in times of extreme turmoil. We never believed in complex structures or “fine-prints.” Attractive returns can be achieved with simple, comprehensive structures that above all ensure transparency and liquidity. We vouched to set up our company and funds adopting best practices even though we were a small start-up firm and costs were substantial. We do not regret for a second the fact, that at the time, we decided to set up a structure with higher costs for the sole purpose to reassure investors that the structure of their investment would be safe. E