Strategy
Credit Suisse AM, Qatar Fund Ink Partnership

The development highlights how the MENA region, and Gulf in particular, remains an important business hunting ground for international firms and investors seeking sources of capital.
Credit Suisse
and the Qatar
Investment Authority have announced a partnership between the
Middle East jurisdiction and Credit Suisse Asset Management to
form a multi-billion dollar direct private credit platform.
The platform will provide financing primarily in the form of
secured first and second lien loans to upper middle-market and
larger companies in the US and Europe, the organisations said in
a statement yesterday.
The platform is part of CSAM’s Credit Investments Group, led by
global head and chief investment officer, John Popp.
“We believe this strategic partnership with QIA presents unique
opportunities for borrowers seeking credit solutions to partner
with our asset management and investment bank franchises. The
Credit Investments Group, within Credit Suisse Asset Management,
has extensive industry and lending relationships that, when
combined with Credit Suisse’s unmatched leveraged finance and
financial sponsors franchises, uniquely positions us to provide
capital and liquidity to the private credit market,” Eric Varvel,
global head of asset management and chairman of the investment
bank at Credit Suisse, said.
The partnership is an example of international firms continuing
to seek business opportunities in the MENA region (see a profile
by this news service of the region and its players, here).
Mansoor Al Mahmoud, QIA chief executive, said: “We see
significant potential in the growing private credit market and we
are excited to once again work with Credit Suisse. This strategic
partnership, with one of the foremost leaders in asset
management, is aligned with QIA’s objectives as a long-term
diversified investor across asset classes both in the US and
globally.”