Direct lending refers to the provision of credit from non-bank lenders (or direct lenders) directly to companies (or borrowers) seeking financing solutions for growth opportunities and day-to-day operations. Borrowers are typically privately held and/or owned by private equity firms and looking for a reliable alternative to a bank.
Over the past decade, direct lending’s market growth has been driven by two key trends: (i) banks reducing loans to small and mid-sized companies and (ii) the continued expansion of private equity, often supported by private credit financing. We believe these trends are likely to persist, potentially broadening the set of opportunities.
Larger-scale companies are increasingly choosing the direct market for financing. This trend is driven by the ability to customize deals and the consistent, repeat usage of private credit lenders, making it a preferred option over traditional public financing.
Direct lending offers borrowers several potentials benefits, including but not limited to:
Certainty of execution and fixed terms, as reliable sources of capital during periods of volatility with no syndication risks
Confidentiality in deal-making
Long-term partnership through consultations and potential new deals
Working directly with management teams to create customized financing solutions to meet their unique needs
A business development company (“BDC”) is a type of closed-end fund that was created to promote investment in an important part of the U.S. economy, small and middle market businesses.
Over time, innovation in BDC offerings has improved access to direct lending and enabled more seamless implementation.
Direct Lending may offer compelling portfolio benefits, including but not limited to:
Yield premium relative to public credit
Potential risk mitigation
All-weather solution
Historically consistent returns
Blue Owl also offers a technology approach, providing access to a rapidly growing non-public market.
Larger-scale companies are increasingly choosing the direct market for financing. This trend is driven by the ability to customize deals and the consistent, repeat usage of private credit lenders, making it a preferred option over traditional public financing.
Direct lending offers borrowers several potentials benefits, including but not limited to:
Certainty of execution and fixed terms, as reliable sources of capital during periods of volatility with no syndication risks
Confidentiality in deal-making
Long-term partnership through consultations and potential new deals
Working directly with management teams to create customized financing solutions to meet their unique needs
A business development company (“BDC”) is a type of closed-end fund that was created to promote investment in an important part of the U.S. economy, small and middle market businesses.
Over time, innovation in BDC offerings has improved access to direct lending and enabled more seamless implementation.
Direct Lending may offer compelling portfolio benefits, including but not limited to:
Yield premium relative to public credit
Potential risk mitigation
All-weather solution
Historically consistent returns
Blue Owl also offers a technology approach, providing access to a rapidly growing non-public market.
Direct loans have historically earned higher yields compared to traditional fixed income
With senior secured loans and tighter lending covenants, direct lending may offer risk mitigation measures.
Direct lending offers investors exposure to private companies across a wide range of sectors and end markets.
Our credit performance has benefited from our robust network of private equity sponsors and a disciplined underwriting process. We have deployed $118B+ while achieving an annual loss rate of only 0.11% across Blue Owl Direct Lending.1,2
Our independent origination process is driven by our extensive network of industry contacts and portfolio company relationships. We focus on sponsor-led leveraged buyouts, refinancings, recapitalizations and acquisitions.
The process through which an investment decision is made involves extensive research into the company, its industry, its growth prospects and its ability to withstand adverse conditions. We will engage in an intensive due diligence process focused on fundamental credit analysis and seeking downside protection while pursuing every investment opportunity.4
Our underwriting process is focused on top-line stability and analyzing the downside case. We conduct extensive due diligence processes that include onsite visits, company management meetings, and significant analysis to recover par in default scenarios.
We work closely with financial sponsors and/or company management, with an intense focus on identifying and mitigating risk. Prior to closing, additional due diligence may be conducted on our behalf by attorneys, independent accountants, and other third-party consultants and research firms.
Approval of an investment requires the approval of a majority of the Diversified Lending Investment Committee. Once the Diversified Lending Investment Committee had determined that a prospective portfolio company is suitable for investment, we work with the management team of that company and its other capital providers, including senior, junior and equity capital providers, if any, to finalize the structure and terms of the investment.
Covenants are contractual restrictions that lenders place on companies to limit the corporate actions a company may pursue. Generally, the loans in which we expect to invest will have financial maintenance covenants, which are used to proactively address materially adverse changes in a portfolio company’s financial performance.
On an ongoing basis, we proactively monitor the financial trends of each portfolio company and remain in regular contact with portfolio company management teams and private equity sponsors.
Our independent origination process is driven by our extensive network of industry contacts and portfolio company relationships. We focus on sponsor-led leveraged buyouts, refinancings, recapitalizations and acquisitions.
The process through which an investment decision is made involves extensive research into the company, its industry, its growth prospects and its ability to withstand adverse conditions. We will engage in an intensive due diligence process focused on fundamental credit analysis and seeking downside protection while pursuing every investment opportunity.4
Our underwriting process is focused on top-line stability and analyzing the downside case. We conduct extensive due diligence processes that include onsite visits, company management meetings, and significant analysis to recover par in default scenarios.
We work closely with financial sponsors and/or company management, with an intense focus on identifying and mitigating risk. Prior to closing, additional due diligence may be conducted on our behalf by attorneys, independent accountants, and other third-party consultants and research firms.
Approval of an investment requires the approval of a majority of the Diversified Lending Investment Committee. Once the Diversified Lending Investment Committee had determined that a prospective portfolio company is suitable for investment, we work with the management team of that company and its other capital providers, including senior, junior and equity capital providers, if any, to finalize the structure and terms of the investment.
Covenants are contractual restrictions that lenders place on companies to limit the corporate actions a company may pursue. Generally, the loans in which we expect to invest will have financial maintenance covenants, which are used to proactively address materially adverse changes in a portfolio company’s financial performance.
On an ongoing basis, we proactively monitor the financial trends of each portfolio company and remain in regular contact with portfolio company management teams and private equity sponsors.
Our domain expertise in technology lending comes from our dedicated pools of capital and technology-focused investment team, with presences in both Silicon Valley and New York.
Diversified Lending
OCIC is a perpetually non-traded business development company (BDC) that provides investors an access points to our diversified lending strategy.
Technology Lending
OTIC is a perpetually non-traded business development company (BDC) that provides investors an access point to technology lending strategy.
Endnotes
1. Since the inception of Blue Owl's credit platform in 2016.
2. As of December 31, 2024. Average annual loss rate based on total annual net realized losses across all investments divided by the average aggregate quarterly cost of investments. The loss rate is based on the average loss rates in each year since inception from 2016 to 4Q24. Loss rates by fund: OBDC (-0.22%), OBDC II (-0.17%), OBDC III (-0.12%), OCIC (-0.07%), OTF (-0.24%), OTF II (0.00%), OTIC (-0.05%), FLF (-0.45%), OLF (-0.08%).
2. As of December 31, 2024. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This is for illustrative and informational purposes only. All investments involve risk of loss, including loss of principal invested. Indices listed do not represent benchmarks for the funds but allow for comparison of a fund's performance to an Index. There can be no assurance that historical trends will continue during the life of any fund. An investor cannot invest directly in an index. Index performance does not reflect fees and expenses. The indices presented represent investments that have material differences from an investment in a non-traded BDC, including those related to vehicle structure, investment objectives and restrictions, risks, fluctuation of principal, safety guarantees or insurance, fees and expenses, liquidity and tax treatment. Source: SP LCD, Cliffwater, JP Morgan. Market loss rates calculated as average loss rates and defined as: for loans, based on SP LCD default rates for all loan $ defaults as percentage of total outstanding and calculated as default*(1 – average historical Recovery Rate) from 2016 to 4Q24; Direct Lending based on Cliffwater Direct Lending Index realized gains/losses from 2Q16 to 4Q24; High Yield Bonds based on JP Morgan Default Monitor annual defaults and calculated as default* (1 – average historical Recovery Rate) from 2016 to 4Q24; Recovery rates for loans of range from 48-63% by year and 22-55% for bonds and are based on JP Morgan Default Monitor, February 3, 2025.
3. As of December 31, 2024. Since Blue Owl Direct Lending inception in 2016. Total Deals Reviewed and Closed excludes add-ons, transactions for existing borrowers, liquid credit deals, and equity-only transactions.
4. Public Technology Companies represented by Russell 3000 list of IT holdings.
5. Technology Total Market Source: CompTIA Cyberstates 2022 report as of March 2022.
6. Gartner, Newsroom: Worldwide IT & Software Spending; pulled from press releases.
Important Information
Unless otherwise noted the Report Date referenced herein is as of December 31, 2024.
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Assets Under Management (“AUM”) refers to the assets that we manage and is generally equal to the sum of (i) net asset value (“NAV”); (ii) drawn and undrawn debt; (iii) uncalled capital commitments; (iv) total managed assets for certain Credit and Real Assets products; and (v) par value of collateral for collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”) and other securitizations.
The material presented is proprietary information regarding Blue Owl Capital Inc. (“Blue Owl”), its affiliates and investment program, funds sponsored by Blue Owl, including the Blue Owl Credit, GP Strategic Capital Funds and the Real Assets Funds (collectively the “Blue Owl Funds”) as well as investment held by the Blue Owl Funds.
An investment in the Fund or other investment vehicle entails a high degree of risk. Prospective investors should consider all of the risk factors set forth in the "Certain Risk Factors and Actual and Potential Conflicts of Interest" of the PPM or Prospectus, each of which could have an adverse effect on the Fund or other investment vehicle and on the value of Interests.
An investment in the Fund or other investment vehicle is suitable only for sophisticated investors and requires the financial ability and willingness to accept the high risks and lack of liquidity associated with an investment in the Fund or other investment vehicle. Investors in the Fund or other investment vehicle must be prepared to bear such risks for an indefinite period of time. There will be restrictions on transferring interests in the Fund or other investment vehicle, and the investment performance of the Fund or other investment vehicle may be volatile. Investors must be prepared to hold their interests in the Fund or other investment vehicle until its dissolution and should have the financial ability and willingness to accept the risk characteristics of the Fund's or other investment vehicle’s investments.
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The views expressed and, except as otherwise indicated, the information provided are as of the report date and are subject to change, update, revision, verification, and amendment, materially or otherwise, without notice, as market or other conditions change. Since these conditions can change frequently, there can be no assurance that the trends described herein will continue or that any forecasts are accurate. In addition, certain of the statements contained in this material may be statements of future expectations and other forward-looking statements that are based on the current views and assumptions of Blue Owl and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties (including those discussed below) that could cause actual results, performance, or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. These statements may be forward-looking by reason of context or identified by words such as “may, will, should, expects, plans, intends, anticipates, believes, estimates, predicts, potential or continue” and other similar expressions. Neither Blue Owl, its affiliates, nor any of Blue Owl’s or its affiliates' respective advisers, members, directors, officers, partners, agents, representatives or employees or any other person (collectively the “Blue Owl Entities”) is under any obligation to update or keep current the information contained in this document.
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This material is for informational purposes only and is not an offer or a solicitation to sell or subscribe for any fund or other investment vehicle and does not constitute investment, legal, regulatory, business, tax, financial, accounting, or other advice or a recommendation regarding any securities of Blue Owl, of any fund or investment vehicle managed by Blue Owl, or of any other issuer of securities. Only a definitive offering document (i.e.: Prospectus or Private Placement Memorandum or other offering material) can make such an offer. Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Attorney General of the State of New York nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if the Prospectus, Private Placement Memorandum or other offering material is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. Within the United States and Canada, securities are offered through Blue Owl Securities LLC, member of FINRA/SIPC, as Dealer Manager