Direct Lending
Drawing on almost two decades of experience, we underwrite private debt loans for European mid-market companies with the aim of capitalizing on the attractive and growing middle market financing opportunity in Europe. Our established and cycle-tested track record highlights the merits of our prudent investment approach and our ability to select some of the most attractive opportunities in the area of direct lending.
18-year
track record
EUR 5.6bn
of commitments
>120
investments completed
What we do
While many factors − such as economic growth and M&A activity − influence private debt markets, we believe investing in the right opportunities is what ultimately drives returns for a successful direct lending program. Our targeted investment process therefore focuses on bottom-up selection and on securing access to high-quality investments with the potential to deliver attractive risk-adjusted returns. Our goal is to build diversified portfolios of investments that provide strong cash flow coupled with downside mitigation.
Our approach – why partner with us
Our Direct Lending team has a long track record of generating competitive returns with limited volatility, reflecting our key strengths including:
- Strong network and coverage – As an active investor in private debt since 2005, we have built a substantial network of sponsors and intermediaries and have established extensive local and regional market coverage.
- Established and cycle-tested track record – We have invested over EUR 5.6 billion in 120 arranged middle market debt transactions mainly to sponsor-backed companies over the last 18 years. We have strong experience and expertise in managing turnarounds and restructurings.
Team – an average of 13 years of industry experience
Our Direct Lending team comprises 20 investment specialists who are dedicated to sourcing, analyzing and negotiating private debt investments. They are supported by more than 20 professionals focusing on areas such as legal, risk management and assessment, portfolio monitoring, loan servicing and treasury, as well as fund reporting.
Kevin Abrial
Partner
Matthew Gordon Clark
Partner
Etienne Haubold
Partner
Yan Henrichs
Executive Director
Stéphane Legrand
Partner
Jonathan Smith
Principal