Private credit is booming, but it's not without risk. Ares Management's Raj Dhanda says this is the moment when experience matters most. From underwriting discipline to navigating rate cuts and illiquidity risk he joined Bloomberg Open Interest to break down how Ares is positioning for the next phase of the credit cycle, and why he thinks private markets still have plenty of upside. ...

The global financial stability watchdog have vowed to double down on efforts to better assess the risk from private credit and stablecoins in 2026 and explore ways to modernize financial regulation in general. https://t.co/pt2uTrA3Qx ...

Private Credit Becomes Core as JPMorgan Rethinks 60/40 Model https://t.co/kHEgMGyIW0 ...

Hey, Carl. Uh, I have learned from people familiar with the matter that Blue Owl has decided to call off its private credit funds merger. This is something we've been talking about all week. You all have been talking about all week. This controversial combination of one of its non-traded funds, Blue Owl Capital Corporation 2, with its bigger publicly listed vehicle, Blue Owl Capital Corp. News of the merger, if you recall, restricted investors from redeeming uh from the semi-liquid non-traded fund, the one ...

Core Insights - The article discusses the growing interest in collateralized loan obligations (CLOs) and the recent trend of launching exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that invest in CLOs, highlighting their appeal due to high yields in a rising interest rate environment [2][3]. Group 1: Market Trends - Issuers are increasingly entering the CLO ETF market, with Janus Henderson and Reckoner Capital Management recently proposing new CLO strategies [2]. - The appeal of CLO ETFs is attributed to their high yields compared to other bond funds, particularly during a period of high interest rates [2][3]. Group 2: Investment Strategies - Janus Henderson's new fund will focus on AA- and A-rated CLOs, which carry higher risk than AAA-rated bonds but offer the potential for higher returns [3]. - The first CLO ETF launched by Janus Henderson, JAAA, provides access to a diverse range of CLOs, allowing investors to benefit from corporate loan repayments [3]. Group 3: Performance Metrics - The three largest CLO ETFs currently include Janus Henderson's JAAA with approximately $25 billion in assets and a year-to-date increase of 3.8%, PGIM's PAAA with $4.5 billion in assets and a 4.3% increase, and iShares' CLOA with $1.3 billion in assets and a 4.2% increase [5]. Group 4: Risk Considerations - There is a noted risk associated with investing in lower-grade loans within CLOs, and investors are advised to conduct thorough due diligence, particularly with smaller CLO names [4].

When I wrote about Ares ( ARES ) back in April, I saw an opportunity to buy into a leading name in the private credit space following a sharp sell-off in the stock. Since myProfessional equity portfolio manager for a boutique buy-side asset manager.My focus is on finding high-quality companies, applying a disciplined approach to valuation and identifying underappreciated opportunities. My goal is to identify opportunities in cash-rich companies with strong balance sheets and shareholder friendly policies. I ...

Core Insights - The article discusses the importance of enabling Javascript and cookies in browsers to ensure proper functionality and access to content [1] Group 1 - The article highlights that users may face access issues if they have an ad-blocker enabled, suggesting the need to disable it for uninterrupted service [1]

Stocks are overpriced. Bonds are overpriced. And private assets are a powder keg. This is the view of Jeffrey Gundlach, the founder and CEO of DoubleLine Capital.@TruthGundlach joins @‌thestalwart and @‌tracyalloway on the Odd Lots podcast to discuss how private credit is showing signs of trouble https://t.co/qoGXjc1GMM ...

Summary of Blue Owl Capital Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Blue Owl Capital (NYSE: OWL) - **Industry**: Alternative Asset Management and Business Development Companies (BDCs) Key Points and Arguments Industry Resilience and Evolution - The alternative asset management industry has shown resilience despite experiencing double-digit drawdowns in stock prices, indicating strong investment performance over time [1][2] - The industry has evolved from primarily private equity and direct lending to include capital-light businesses, transaction fees, and on-balance sheet insurance liabilities [26] Business Model and Strategy - Blue Owl started as a direct lending business and has expanded into asset-based lending, digital infrastructure, and GP stakes, focusing on bespoke capital solutions [9][10] - The firm emphasizes downside protection, principal preservation, and yield as core investment strategies, which remain consistent over the years [11][12] - The majority of growth has been organic, with acquisitions being a smaller percentage of overall enterprise growth [12][13] Importance of Scale - Scale is critical in the credit space, allowing for more origination, underwriting, and participation in larger financing deals [17][18] - Larger firms can access better credits and more opportunities, which is not uniformly true across all investment strategies [19][20] Volatility and Market Conditions - Periods of market volatility are viewed positively as they create opportunities for deploying capital into higher-quality companies at better spreads [32][33] - The firm has developed expertise in managing assets during volatile markets, which can lead to accelerated growth [33] Portfolio Performance and Risk Management - Blue Owl's software lending portfolio has a low default rate of 0.03%, indicating high quality and performance [76][77] - The average loan-to-value (LTV) ratio for software loans is around 30%, providing a significant equity cushion [87] - The firm maintains a diversified portfolio with a focus on senior secured loans, which are less susceptible to market downturns [52][56] Market Perception and Education - There is a need for better communication and education regarding the private credit industry to counter negative narratives and misconceptions [65][66] - The firm believes that strong performance and results will ultimately speak for themselves and help change market perceptions [51][62] Future Outlook - Blue Owl is focused on maintaining a disciplined approach to credit quality and origination, ensuring that they do not compromise standards for growth [44] - The firm is optimistic about the future, believing that their business model and strategies will continue to yield positive results despite market fluctuations [61][62] Additional Important Insights - The firm has approximately $600 billion in assets under management (AUM) and expects manageable inflows from the wealth channel [39] - The alternative credit business is expected to grow significantly, with a focus on direct origination and a diverse range of underlying assets [88][89]

Summary of Ares Management and Blue Owl Conference Call Industry Overview - The conference focused on the alternative asset management industry, particularly private credit and direct lending, highlighting its resilience and growth potential [1][2][3] Key Companies Discussed - **Ares Management (NYSE: ARES)** - Co-President: Kipp deVeer - **Blue Owl** - Co-CEO: Mark Lipschultz Core Insights and Arguments Ares Management - Ares has five credit businesses: two direct lending businesses in the U.S. and Europe, an asset-based finance business, a loan and high-yield business, and an opportunistic credit business [3][4] - The firm has experienced significant growth, with a focus on strategic initiatives and operational improvements [6][7] - Ares emphasizes the importance of scale in credit, allowing for better origination and underwriting capabilities [20][21] - The firm operates a capital-light, fee-driven business model, focusing on high cash flow and high dividend returns [30][32] Blue Owl - Blue Owl has evolved from a direct lending business to include asset-based lending and digital infrastructure, maintaining a focus on capital solutions and downside protection [10][11][12] - The firm has achieved substantial growth, with its real assets business growing from $12.5 billion to $45 billion in assets [13] - Blue Owl's strategy emphasizes serving both individual and institutional investors equally [12] Important Trends and Observations - The alternative asset management industry has seen a shift towards capital-light, fee-driven models, which are becoming more prevalent among firms like Ares and Blue Owl [28][29] - Volatility in the market is viewed positively, as it allows firms to deploy capital into higher-quality companies and better spreads [33][34][36] - The firms have developed expertise in managing assets during volatile markets, which has historically led to accelerated growth [34][35] Risk Management and Portfolio Diversification - Ares and Blue Owl maintain diversified portfolios with low leverage, which helps mitigate risks during economic downturns [53][54][56] - The average position size in Ares' portfolio is sub-20 basis points, providing a significant equity cushion [53] - The firms emphasize the importance of maintaining high credit standards and rigorous underwriting processes to ensure portfolio durability [44][45] Software Lending and AI Impact - The software lending sector is highlighted as a high-performing area within the portfolios, with low default rates and strong performance metrics [81][82] - The firms are cautious about the risks associated with AI but believe that their selected software companies have strong fundamentals and market positions [85][90] Conclusion - Both Ares and Blue Owl are positioned well within the alternative asset management industry, leveraging their scale, diversified portfolios, and strategic focus on capital-light models to navigate market volatility and capitalize on growth opportunities [62][63][64]