2018 was another strong year for private debt. Fundraising exceeded $100bn for the fourth consecutive year and, although the year-end figure of $110bn is down on the record $129bn raised by funds closed in 2017, as more data becomes available throughout the year it will likely exceed this total. Global assets under management (AUM) hit a record $769bn as at June 2018 (the latest data available), meaning that the asset class is now larger than infrastructure and natural resources combined.
Q4 hedge fund letters, conference, scoops etc
We are at an exciting point in time for private debt, an asset class characterized by a unique mix of youthful vigour and growing maturity, with potential challenges on the horizon.
Youth vs. Experience
Investors are, on average, well below their target allocations to private debt, and over the next 12 months a third of investors will look to commit more capital than they did in the previous 12 months in an effort to move closer to their targets. Over the longer term, investors are expecting private debt to remain a core, and increasingly prevalent, part of their portfolios: almost half of investors plan to increase their target allocations to the asset class. The potential for even further growth is huge. Although the number of institutions actively investing in private debt has increased significantly from 2,643 in 2016 to 3,645 in 2018, it is still only around 30% of investors tracked by Preqin.
The private debt asset class is also beginning to benefit from the growing pool of more than 1,600 fund managers, especially in North America and Europe. While firms continue to enter the market all the time, there are signs of capital concentration (so prevalent in other asset classes) beginning to take effect in private debt. First-time fund managers secured just 6% of total capital raised by funds closed in 2018, down from 16% in 2014.
Clouds on the horizon
The asset class has delivered for investors in recent years, with superior returns, good liquidity and yield as well as portfolio diversification. However, this rapid growth has also created competition for deals, leading to yield compression and erosion of covenants. As a result, over half (53%) of surveyed fund managers believe competition for assets will be a key challenge for return generation in 2019. In addition, the Federal Reserve has expressed concerns about non-bank credit being a potential risk for financial stability, suggesting it may not be smooth sailing for this thriving asset class in the months ahead.
The general consensus is that private debt will remain a prominent part of investors’ portfolios worldwide, and these portfolios will become more sophisticated and diverse over time. The opportunities exist for fund managers to secure capital from investors, but with new fund managers entering the asset class all the time and competition intensifying, they must be able to differentiate themselves from their peers and show they can deliver even in challenging times.
For expert commentary, key trends, historical statistics and survey results, take a look at the newly-released 2019 Preqin Global Private Debt Report – the most complete and in-depth review of the industry available.
Article by Preqin
