When London-based alternative asset manager Intermediate Capital Group (ICG) closed its third European senior secured debt fund at €5.2 billion last November, it was a wake-up call for anyone that needed it about the amount of private debt now chasing assets both in the region and worldwide.
In 2017 $56.2 billion was raised globally for direct lending strategies, up from just $24.7 billion in 2016. According to data provider Preqin, there were 348 private debt funds in market at the start of April, seeking $168 billion from investors. Direct lending funds accounted for almost half of that, with 170 funds targeting $74 billion.
The largest fund closings in Europe last year, alongside ICG’s Senior Partners III at €5.2 billion, were Alcentra Clareant European Direct Lending Fund II at €4.3 billion, HayFin Direct Lending Strategy II at €3.5 billion, Bluebay Senior Loan Fund at €2.9 billion and Permira Credit Solutions Fund III at €1.7 billion.
The lure of the strategy is not hard to fathom.
