Macquarie launches European direct lending platform

Macquarie Group has launched a European direct lending platform which will provide investors with access to middle-market credit opportunities.

Macquarie plans to launch a similar platform for the US market by the middle of this year.

The platform brings together teams from Macquarie Capital Principal Finance and Macquarie Asset Management to deliver high quality mid-market direct lending investment opportunities.

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The new platform will invest alongside the Macquarie balance sheet, while the investment team will continue to invest the balance sheet into private credit opportunities.

“While we have been active in direct lending for over 15 years, the market opportunity and investor demand has never been greater,” said Patrick Ottersbach, EMEA head of private credit at Macquarie Capital.

“We look forward to growing our direct lending franchise and increasing the scale and flexibility of capital solutions that borrowers need.”

Read more: Macquarie to close US debt capital market business

Macquarie Capital’s investment team has deployed capital for Macquarie Capital Principal Finance in direct lending since 2009. During this time, the firm has provided €37bn (£30.9bn) of financing to more than 550 borrowers globally.

“We are delighted to bring together two highly experienced teams in the direct lending space,” said Sophia Alison, EMEA direct lending portfolio manager at Macquarie Asset Management.

“We will provide clients with access to high quality differentiated investment opportunities generated by a deeply experienced team on a leading asset management platform.”

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