Largest ever direct lending fundraise in Europe
ICG, the global alternative asset manager, has held the final close for the fifth vintage of its flagship direct lending strategy, Senior Debt Partners (“SDP”). The fund and associated vehicles raised a total of $17bn (approximately €15.2bn), significantly exceeding the initial target of $11-12bn. To date, the fund has invested circa 45% of the capital raised.
SDP was launched in 2012 to provide first lien, senior secured loans to a wide and diversified pool of mid and upper mid-market European-based businesses, typically owned by leading private equity firms. Today the strategy is a market leader in the asset class, investing and managing capital on behalf of over 180 clients.
Benoît Durteste, CIO and CEO of ICG, commented: ‘This fundraise underlines ICG’s leading position in European direct lending. We are proud to be amongst the beneficiaries of a market environment in which clients are increasingly looking to partner with a smaller number of managers, and this significant upsize of one of our flagship funds is a notable achievement as we execute our strategy of scaling up and scaling out.’
Peter Lockhead and Mathieu Vigier, Co-Heads of SDP, commented: ‘The direct lending market in Europe remains attractive from an investment perspective through economic cycles, and we have a significant pipeline of opportunities. Today’s announcement underlines the appeal of SDP’s clear investment strategy and our differentiated origination platform, and we are grateful to our clients for the support they have shown.’
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