Macquarie Group has announced the launch of a direct lending platform in Europe, aimed at providing investors with access to middle-market credit. This initiative combines efforts from Macquarie Capital Principal Finance and Macquarie Asset Management to offer mid-market direct lending investment opportunities. The company plans to introduce a similar platform in the United States by mid-2025.
The investment team at Macquarie Capital brings extensive experience to this market, having provided €37 billion in financing to over 550 borrowers globally since 2009. These investments have spanned various industries and transaction types.
Patrick Ottersbach, EMEA Head of Private Credit at Macquarie Capital, stated: “While we have been active in direct lending for over 15 years, the market opportunity and investor demand has never been greater. We look forward to growing our direct lending franchise and increasing the scale and flexibility of capital solutions that borrowers’ need.”
Sophia Alison, EMEA Direct Lending Portfolio Manager at Macquarie Asset Management, commented: “We are delighted to bring together two highly experienced teams in the direct lending space. We will provide clients with access to high quality differentiated investment opportunities generated by a deeply experienced team on a leading asset management platform.”
This development comes amid rapid growth in the private credit market, with global assets under management projected to reach approximately $US2.6 trillion by 2029. There is an observable trend where more borrowers are seeking alternative solutions as traditional banks reduce their involvement in this sector. Macquarie aims to leverage these trends to expand its business and support its clients.
Macquarie Asset Management’s credit platform currently manages over $220 billion across Fixed Income, Leveraged Credit, and Private Credit.