Trevor Dodds

Trevor Dodds from Bank of America requested a deeper explanation of the AI 'agents' opportunity within payables and payments, asking for specific use cases.

Answer

Founder, CEO & Chairperson René Lacerte detailed the strategic shift from a 'do it with you' to a 'do it for you' model, powered by AI. He emphasized that Bill's unique position is built on a massive dataset (over 1% of U.S. GDP) and deep customer trust. Mr. Lacerte provided several use cases for the agents, including automating document intake and routing, streamlining supplier management and onboarding, optimizing payment execution, and generating strategic financial insights for SMBs, effectively providing them with a virtual finance function.

Trevor Dodds, on behalf of Dan Fannon, inquired about the current new investment pipeline compared to a year ago and whether the change in administration has affected discussions with potential affiliates.

Answer

President and CEO Jay Horgen confirmed the new investment pipeline remains strong, highlighting the recent NorthBridge Partners deal as an example of their strategy to invest in high-growth private markets firms. Horgen noted that NorthBridge, a specialist in industrial logistics real estate, chose AMG for its growth capital and strategic support while preserving independence. He stated the broader pipeline is predominantly focused on alternatives and that the current administrative environment is viewed as favorable for accelerating new investments, potentially due to lower regulation and a pro-business climate.