Private Credit Investors in Europe

17Capital is a global finance firm headquartered in London, UK, that specializes in providing NAV-based financing and preferred equity solutions to the private equity industry. Acting as a strategic capital partner, 17Capital offers non-dilutive funding to private equity fund managers (GPs), funds, and institutional investors, enabling them to unlock liquidity or fuel growth without having to sell underlying portfolio assets.Founded in 2008, 17Capital has pioneered the NAV finance market and by 2024 manages roughly $11 billion in assets across several dedicated funds. The firm has completed over 100 financing transactions and deployed more than $15 billion in capital since inception, supporting initiatives such as fund expansions, portfolio acquisitions, refinancings, and liquidity programs. 17Capital’s financing can take the form of preferred equity, secured loans, or other tailored structures across the capital stack, all designed to align with the long-term interests of both general partners and limited partners.Though boutique in focus, 17Capital has a growing team of around 60 professionals and maintains offices in London and New York to serve its global client base. In 2022, a majority stake in 17Capital was acquired by Oaktree Capital Management, enhancing 17Capital’s reach and resources while it continues to operate independently. With its singular focus on NAV financing and deep expertise in private equity portfolios, 17Capital has established itself as the go-to provider of portfolio financing in the private equity market, offering investors “capital on demand” to maximize value creation.

Adams Street Partners is a leading global private markets investment manager headquartered in Chicago. Established in 1972, the firm has over five decades of experience in private equity, offering a comprehensive suite of investment strategies including venture capital, growth equity, buyouts, private credit, and secondary investments. The firm is 100% employee-owned, fostering a culture of alignment and long-term commitment to its clients. With a presence in more than 30 countries across five continents, Adams Street Partners leverages its extensive network and deep industry insights to identify and capitalize on investment opportunities. The firm's global footprint includes offices in key financial centers such as Austin, Beijing, Boston, London, Menlo Park, Munich, New York, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, and Toronto, enabling it to maintain close relationships with portfolio companies and investors worldwide. Managing approximately $62 billion in assets under management, Adams Street Partners serves a diverse client base comprising corporate and public pension plans, foundations, family offices, and endowments. The firm's commitment to excellence and innovation in private markets investment management has solidified its reputation as a trusted partner for institutional investors seeking long-term value creation.

Antares Capital, founded in 1996, is a leading private credit manager specializing in financing for private equity-backed middle-market companies. With decades of experience, Antares offers tailored debt solutions designed to support growth, acquisitions, and recapitalizations. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with offices across major financial centers such as New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, and London, Antares delivers senior debt, junior capital, mezzanine financing, and structured equity products. The firm is known for its relationship-driven approach and deep understanding of the private equity landscape. Managing approximately $80 billion in capital under management and administration as of December 2024, Antares Capital is a key player in the private credit space. The firm is committed to delivering attractive, risk-adjusted returns while fostering long-term relationships with sponsors and investors alike.

Arcmont Asset Management is a premier European private debt investment firm, specializing in providing flexible capital solutions to mid-market companies. With deep expertise in the private credit space, Arcmont partners with businesses to support growth, acquisitions, and refinancing, offering tailored financing that aligns with each company’s strategic goals. The firm operates across a broad range of sectors, leveraging its experienced team and comprehensive market insight to deliver consistent performance and value for its investors. Arcmont focuses on senior debt, subordinated debt, and structured capital investments, primarily in non-cyclical industries where long-term resilience and stability are key. Headquartered in London, with offices in key European cities, Arcmont serves institutional investors globally. Its platform benefits from a robust deal sourcing network and rigorous due diligence processes, ensuring disciplined investment management across varying market cycles. The firm’s commitment to responsible investing and ESG principles further underscores its long-term approach to value creation.

Ardian is a leading global private investment house headquartered in Paris, France. Founded in 1996 by Dominique Senequier as AXA Private Equity, the firm became independent in 2013 and rebranded as Ardian. Today, it is majority-owned by its employees, reflecting a commitment to long-term alignment with clients and stakeholders. With over $176 billion in assets under management or advisement, Ardian operates across private equity, real assets, and credit. Its private equity expertise includes buyouts, expansion capital, and secondaries, while its real assets portfolio encompasses infrastructure and real estate investments. Ardian also offers customized solutions tailored to institutional and private wealth clients. Ardian maintains a global presence with 19 offices across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and the Middle East, employing over 1,050 professionals. The firm's investment approach emphasizes sustainability, innovation, and value creation, aiming to support companies in achieving long-term growth and positive impact.

Arini Capital Management Limited (“Arini”) is a London‑headquartered alternative credit manager, founded in 2021 by Hamza Lemssouguer, a former Credit Suisse star trader. The team officially launched the firm in January 2022 after spinning out with seed capital, and today operates with over 80 professionals across offices in London and New York. Arini employs a fundamentally driven, opportunistic investment approach across public and private credit, including long/short credit, structured credit, and direct lending. The firm focuses on European credit markets, leveraging deep legal and regulatory knowledge to identify dislocations and generate early‑mover alpha. Core strategies include credit master funds, structured credit equity, collateralised loan obligations (CLOs), and direct lending to mid‑cap companies. In 2025, Arini formed a strategic partnership with Lazard to jointly originate direct lending across EMEA mid‑cap corporates. The firm has grown rapidly, and manages approximately $7 billion in assets under management, serving institutional investors and providing bespoke financing solutions across Europe and globally.

Established in 2009, Beach Point Capital Management is a global investment firm focused on credit strategies. Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, with offices in New York, London, and Dublin, the firm manages over $19 billion in assets. It serves institutional investors by delivering value-oriented, risk-aware investment solutions across various market environments. Beach Point’s expertise spans a broad array of credit instruments, including high-yield bonds, senior loans, structured credit, distressed debt, direct lending, capital solutions, real estate, and private equity. With a flexible capital approach and deep market knowledge, the firm targets complex and often overlooked opportunities in both liquid and illiquid markets. The team at Beach Point includes over 165 professionals, with more than 65 investment specialists averaging 25 years of experience. The firm’s culture emphasizes collaboration, transparency, and client alignment. Its strong internal values have earned it multiple recognitions, including five consecutive years as one of the Best Places to Work in Money Management by Pensions & Investments.

Bridgepoint Group plc is a leading international alternative asset manager focused on middle-market private equity and private credit. Founded in 1984 as part of NatWest and spun out in 2000, the firm is headquartered in London and publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange since 2021. It manages over €39 billion in assets across a family of funds targeting mid-cap buyouts, growth investing, and specialist credit. Bridgepoint emphasizes long-term partnerships with portfolio companies and institutional clients, delivering strong returns through operational transformation and strategic growth support. The group operates six principal investment strategies: Bridgepoint Europe (mid-cap buyouts), Bridgepoint Development Capital (small-mid buyouts), Bridgepoint Credit, Bridgepoint Growth, Infrastructure, and Bridgepoint Direct Lending. Its portfolio spans sectors including healthcare, technology, business services, consumer, and advanced industrials. The firm typically targets businesses valued between €200 million and €1.5 billion, offering both capital and operational expertise to unlock scalable value. With over 200 investment professionals and 13 global offices, Bridgepoint maintains a diversified and regionally embedded structure. Offices are located in London (HQ), New York, San Francisco, Paris, Frankfurt, Madrid, Amsterdam, Luxembourg, Shanghai, Tokyo, Singapore, Seoul, and Abu Dhabi. As a UN PRI signatory, the firm integrates ESG principles across its investment processes and portfolio management, reinforcing its commitment to responsible and sustainable investing.

Cerberus Capital Management, L.P., founded in 1992, is a leading global alternative investment firm headquartered in New York City. With approximately $65 billion in assets under management, Cerberus specializes in private equity, credit, and real estate strategies. The firm leverages its integrated investment platforms and proprietary operating capabilities to drive long-term value for investors. The firm is known for its flexible and disciplined investment approach, often targeting distressed assets and underperforming businesses across the capital structure. Cerberus has built a strong track record through value-driven turnarounds, including high-profile investments such as Chrysler and various non-performing loan portfolios worldwide. With a presence across North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, South America, and Africa, Cerberus operates through a global network of affiliate and advisory offices. Its diversified strategies and operational depth allow it to navigate complex markets and deliver consistent returns across asset classes and geographies.

EQT is a purpose-driven global investment organization founded in 1994 in Stockholm, Sweden. With a Nordic heritage and a global mindset, EQT focuses on active ownership strategies, responsibly investing in, owning, and developing companies and real assets. EQT invests across multiple geographies, sectors, and strategies, including private equity, infrastructure, real estate, growth equity, and venture capital. The firm aims to future-proof companies and make a positive impact for all stakeholders. As of 2025, EQT manages approximately €273 billion in assets under management (AUM), with a team of over 1,500 employees operating from offices across Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific.

Founded in 1947 by Rupert H. Johnson Sr., Franklin Templeton is a leading global investment management firm headquartered in San Mateo, California. With over $1.5 trillion in assets under management, the firm offers a broad spectrum of investment solutions, including mutual funds, ETFs, alternative investments, and private credit, serving clients in more than 165 countries. Franklin Templeton employs a multi-boutique model, integrating specialized investment teams such as Benefit Street Partners, Alcentra, and the recently acquired Apera Asset Management. This structure enables the firm to provide deep expertise across various asset classes, including fixed income, equities, real estate, infrastructure, and hedge strategies. The firm's commitment to innovation is exemplified by initiatives like the launch of the Franklin OnChain U.S. Government Money Fund, the first tokenized fund under European regulation. Under the leadership of CEO Jenny Johnson, Franklin Templeton continues to expand its global footprint and investment capabilities. The firm's strategic acquisitions and focus on delivering long-term value position it as a trusted partner for institutional and individual investors worldwide.

Future Growth Capital (FGC), founded in 2024 and headquartered in London, UK, is a private markets investment manager created by Schroders and Phoenix Group. It designs Long-Term Asset Funds (LTAFs) focused on private credit, real estate debt, infrastructure and private equity—enabling UK pension savers to access diversified private market assets. FGC launched the first UK‑dedicated multi‑asset LTAF aligned with the UK government’s Mansion House Compact in October 2024, alongside a complementary Global Private Assets LTAF covering North America, Europe and Asia. The firm aims to deploy £10 billion–£20 billion over the coming decade into private market assets, starting with an initial £1 billion mandate from Phoenix Group. Operating from a single London office, FGC manages all strategy origination, investor relations, portfolio design and fund governance centrally. Its team includes experts across credit, real estate debt, infrastructure investment, and private equity—a dedicated and focused capability team advising on both UK and global private market strategies.

Golding Capital Partners GmbH is one of Europe’s leading independent asset managers for alternative investments, focusing on the asset classes infrastructure, private credit, private equity, secondaries and impact. With a team of more than 200 professionals at its offices in Munich, London, Luxembourg, Milan, New York, Tokyo and Zurich, Golding Capital Partners helps institutional and professional investors to develop their investment strategy and manages of around €14 billion in assets. Golding became a signatory of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI) in 2013 and has been a supporter of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) since 2021.

Founded in 2007, HPS Investment Partners, LLC is a leading global investment firm specializing in credit strategies across the capital structure. Originally established as Highbridge Principal Strategies within J.P. Morgan Asset Management, HPS became an independent entity in 2016 following a management buyout. The firm is headquartered in New York City and has expanded its presence with 14 offices worldwide, including key financial centers in London, Hong Kong, and Singapore. HPS manages approximately $148 billion in assets under management as of December 2024, offering a diverse range of investment strategies. These include private credit, public credit, private equity, and real assets. The firm serves a global client base of institutional investors, providing tailored financing solutions that address complex capital needs. HPS's investment approach is characterized by rigorous analysis, disciplined risk management, and a commitment to delivering attractive risk-adjusted returns. In December 2024, BlackRock announced an agreement to acquire HPS Investment Partners for approximately $12 billion, aiming to enhance its private credit capabilities. The transaction is expected to close by mid-2025, subject to regulatory approvals. Post-acquisition, HPS will operate as part of BlackRock's integrated private credit platform, with its leadership team continuing in their roles to ensure continuity and alignment with clients' interests.

Intermediate Capital Group plc (ICG), founded in 1989 and headquartered in London, UK, is a global alternative asset manager providing private debt, structured capital, private equity secondaries, credit, and real assets solutions. With over three decades of experience, ICG manages approximately US $123 billion in assets across institutional client mandates and proprietary strategies. ICG serves a diverse set of investors by offering flexible capital across the capital structure—from structured loans and mezzanine finance to real assets financing and secondary private equity solutions. Its global footprint and sector-hybrid platform enable it to source local opportunities, partner with founders, owners, and sponsors, and deliver sustainable value. With 686 employees operating across 21 locations worldwide, ICG combines centralized leadership from London and regional expertise in major markets throughout North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East to execute disciplined, long-term client-driven solutions.

Founded in 1984 by Richard Kayne and John Anderson, Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors is a leading alternative investment management firm headquartered in Los Angeles, California. The firm specializes in niche, cash flow-oriented strategies across energy infrastructure, real estate, credit, and growth equity. With a disciplined investment approach, Kayne Anderson focuses on sectors where its deep industry knowledge and sourcing advantages can drive superior risk-adjusted returns. As of early 2025, Kayne Anderson manages approximately $31.7 billion in assets under management (AUM) for a diverse clientele, including institutional investors, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals. The firm's investment philosophy emphasizes long-term value creation through active management and strategic partnerships. Kayne Anderson's portfolio includes investments in upstream oil and gas companies, renewable energy infrastructure, specialized real estate, and middle-market credit opportunities. Beyond its investment activities, Kayne Anderson is committed to social responsibility through the Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors Foundation. Established in 2011, the foundation supports various philanthropic initiatives, including education, mentorship, and community development programs. The firm's dedication to sustainability and community engagement reflects its broader mission to generate positive, lasting impact alongside financial returns.

Knighthead Capital Management, LLC, founded in 2008 by Ara Cohen and Thomas “Tom” Wagner, is a New York‑based investment advisory firm focused on event‑driven, distressed credit, and special situation strategies. Headquartered in Manhattan, Knighthead has grown into a diversified platform that also manages insurance capital and real estate lending through specialized affiliate vehicles. With approximately US $9–16 billion in assets under management and a team of 40‑plus professionals, Knighthead pursues long-short public and private credit opportunities, with a heavy emphasis on turnaround situations, operational restructurings, and tailored capital solutions. The firm prioritizes capital preservation, rigorous analysis, and bespoke structuring across global fixed-income and special situations mandates. Knighthead’s platform includes strategic subsidiaries such as Knighthead Realty Capital Management (real estate debt) and Knighthead Insurance Capital, enabling participation in multiple strategies. The firm is also actively engaged in urban regeneration, including a major £3 billion development project near Birmingham City FC’s stadium through its sports real estate entity. Led by its co‑founders with deep operational experience, Knighthead continues to expand into adjacent asset classes while maintaining its credit-driven roots.

Permira is a leading global investment firm founded in 1985, originally known as Schroder Ventures before rebranding in 2001. Headquartered in London, the firm operates 16 offices across Europe, North America, and Asia, employing more than 650 professionals. Permira specializes in private equity and credit, focusing on long-term value creation through strategic partnerships with management teams. With assets under management exceeding $85 billion, Permira invests in five core sectors: Technology, Consumer, Healthcare, Services, and Climate. The firm’s growth-oriented, thematic investment approach supports companies with high potential for innovation and expansion. Its diverse portfolio includes businesses in software, cybersecurity, branded consumer goods, and healthcare services. Permira emphasizes responsible investment and sustainable growth. The firm works closely with its portfolio companies to implement operational improvements and strategic initiatives. Through its credit platform, Permira also offers flexible financing solutions, including direct lending and structured credit, tailored to support evolving business needs globally.

PGIM is the global investment management business of Prudential Financial, Inc., serving institutional and individual investors worldwide. Headquartered in Newark, New Jersey, PGIM operates in over 40 offices across 18 countries, offering diversified investment strategies through its multi-manager model. Each affiliate under PGIM specializes in specific asset classes, including fixed income, equities, real estate, private credit, and quantitative solutions. This structure allows PGIM to deliver focused expertise while leveraging global research and resources to generate consistent, risk-adjusted returns. Managing over $1.4 trillion in assets, PGIM ranks among the top global asset managers. It recently integrated its fixed income and private credit arms to create a nearly $1 trillion credit platform, reinforcing its position in alternative investments and structured finance solutions worldwide.

Founded in 1971 in Newport Beach, California, by Bill Gross, Jim Muzzy, and Bill Podlich, PIMCO has grown from managing $12 million to becoming one of the world’s premier active fixed income investment managers. From the start, the firm embraced an innovative philosophy—actively trading bonds to capture market opportunities and enhance returns. Today, as an autonomous subsidiary of Allianz SE, PIMCO manages over $2.11 trillion in assets (as of June 30, 2025), with 24 offices worldwide and more than 3,080 professionals serving institutional and individual investors. Its global presence allows it to leverage local insights while maintaining a disciplined, centralized investment approach. PIMCO’s strategy is anchored in rigorous market research, leveraging its cyclical and secular forums to anticipate macroeconomic trends. With expertise spanning public and private debt, ETFs, emerging markets, alternatives, and multi-asset strategies, PIMCO delivers flexible, long-term investment solutions for clients seeking consistent performance across market cycles.