Latest news with #directlending
Bloomberg
2 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Blue Owl's Packer Sees No ‘Plateau' or ‘Peak' for Private Credit
While JPMorgan Chase & Co. 's Jamie Dimon thinks the $1.7 trillion private credit market may have hit a peak, Blue Owl Capital Inc. is still bullish on its bread-and-butter product. The firm is seeing a 'continued secular shift to private credit, and direct lending in particular,' Craig Packer, the co-president and head of credit at Blue Owl, said during an interview with Bloomberg Television on Tuesday.
Wamda
3 days ago
- Business
- Wamda
Sukna Capital secures CMA approval to offer flexible, non-dilutive SME financing
Saudi Arabia-based VC Sukna Capital has received CMA approval to launch the Sukna Fund for Direct Financing (SFDF), an open-ended, Sharia-compliant direct lending fund in MENA, unlocking flexible, non-dilutive capital access for SMEs across the Kingdom. The fund allows periodic investor liquidity and gives founders access to asset-backed financing without giving up equity, addressing critical funding gaps in underserved sectors and supporting Vision 2030 goals to boost SME lending. Backed by Sukna's proprietary tech infrastructure and a veteran team with over $6.5B in transaction experience, SFDF reflects a founder-aligned approach to private credit, with a mission to modernise institutional financing for the region's high-growth businesses. Press release: Sukna Capital has received official approval from the Saudi Capital Market Authority (CMA) to launch the Sukna Fund for Direct Financing. SFDF is KSA's first open-ended, sharia compliant direct lending fund—marking a regulatory milestone for non-bank financing in MENA. As a CMA-licensed alternative asset investment platform, Sukna is now authorised to offer institutional investors access to a vehicle that provides non-dilutive, scalable financing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) seeking accelerated growth without equity dilution. Unlike traditional private credit vehicles, the open-ended fund structure enables investors to enter and exit at regular intervals, offering periodic liquidity with no long lock-up periods. For SMEs, this unlocks access to asset-backed capital while enabling founders to retain complete ownership and avoid the limitations of equity financing. Fares Bardeesi, CEO of Sukna, described the launch as a pivotal step in expanding institutional credit access for underserved sectors across the region. With over two decades of experience in corporate finance and private investments, Fares has led more than USD 6.5 billion in transactions across real estate, technology, and healthcare. As a co-founder of Sukna Ventures and the architect behind Sukna's evolution into structured private debt, he emphasised the urgent need to close funding gaps for both traditional and innovation-led SMEs. 'As of Q3 2024, SME lending in Saudi Arabia is estimated to be SAR 329.23 billion—just 9.1% of total bank credit—well below the Vision 2030 target of 15 to 20 percent,' he noted. 'SFDF is designed to address that gap through institutional, regulator-aligned capital solutions tailored to the needs of high-potential businesses across sectors.' This announcement comes at a pivotal moment, as the Middle East's tech and startup landscape undergoes rapid transformation, while traditional funding structures have not kept pace with founders' evolving needs. Waleed Alballaa, Managing Partner of Sukna Ventures and member of the Fund's Investment Committee, underscored the importance of timing: 'The tech and startup ecosystem has matured significantly, but financing structures simply haven't caught up. We designed SFDF to meet founders where they are—with the right capital, at the right time, and without the red tape.' Waleed brings his unique, founder-centric perspective to the fund, shaped by over two decades at the intersection of technology, operations, and venture capital across Silicon Valley and Saudi Arabia. His deep technical foundation is complemented by a decade dedicated to venture capital, during which he was instrumental in launching multiple investment vehicles and serving on the boards of several prominent technology companies. His holistic experience gives him a firsthand understanding of the capital gaps that can hinder high-growth companies. The launch of SFDF builds on the success of Sukna Ventures, the firm's technology-focused investment arm, known for backing bold, high-growth startups in mobility, logistics, and digital marketplaces. Sukna also leverages proprietary technology to streamline loan origination, risk assessment, portfolio monitoring, and investor reporting, ensuring a transparent and scalable experience for both borrowers and institutional capital partners.
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tower Leasing surpasses £200m in gross receivables
Tower Leasing, a UK-based asset finance provider, has announced it has exceeded £200 million in gross receivables through its own book lending, a major milestone the company says reflects 'over a decade of strategic transformation and sustained growth.' According to a press release, the achievement marks a key moment in Tower Leasing's evolution from a traditional finance broker into a fully integrated hybrid funder. Since launching its direct funding capability in 2013, the company has steadily increased the share of agreements funded through its own book, now comprising the majority of its business. 'This number represents more than financial success, it's a testament to the resilience and dedication of our team over the past 30 years,' said Kerry Howells, CEO of Tower Leasing. She added that the 2013 launch of direct lending was a pivotal step in shaping the company's current model. Tower's growth strategy has included investments in technology and infrastructure, most notably the introduction of Tower Extra, a proprietary tool that allows real-time proposal tracking and credit automation, and has 'significantly improved the funding experience' for brokers, vendors, and end customers, according to the company. Institutional partnerships have also bolstered the firm's funding capabilities. Tower has secured a total of £121.75 million in capital facilities, including £46.75 million from the British Business Bank's ENABLE Funding programme, £25 million from British Business Investments, and a £50 million integrated wholesale funding agreement with Conister Bank. 'We've always remained focused on growing sustainably and building something that lasts,' Howells said, while also crediting longstanding vendor relationships for their role in the company's expansion. Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Bracknell, Berkshire, Tower Leasing specialises in vendor-led and direct-to-customer SME finance. "Tower Leasing surpasses £200m in gross receivables" was originally created and published by Leasing Life, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Bloomberg
12-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Private Equity Is Looking for a Little Help
Things aren't going all that great for private equity firms. They're struggling to sell the companies they own and return cash to investors. But it turns out their counterparts in the world of private credit are offering special loans to tide them over. Direct lending arms at shops from Ares Management to Neuberger Berman Group and even private equity titan KKR have all launched what some are calling 'dequity' funds—to convey the presence of both debt and equity—to the tune of $30 billion industry-wide since 2023. Demand for this type of stopgap financing has soared lately as cash-strapped PE firms face a prolonged deal drought. Higher borrowing costs as well as erratic US trade policies have made it harder for corporate buyers to appraise the value of potential targets or for sponsors to figure out how public stock offerings will go. That's left PE firms saddled with their portfolio companies longer than they'd planned, creating a situation where they don't have enough money to distribute to their limited partners.
Bloomberg
11-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Private, Public Debt Markets Seen Converging in Credit's 3.0 Era
Private and public credit are converging as we speak, according to Clearlake Capital Group co-founder José Feliciano, who expects the trend to dominate financial-market evolution over the next 10 years. 'The convergence of private credit, direct lending and syndicated liquid credit is happening in real time,' Feliciano said at Bloomberg's Global Credit Forum in Los Angeles on Wednesday. 'It gives us a window into credit 3.0.'
