Credit

Direct Lending

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.

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Understanding direct lending Our approach Our solutions Resources Important information
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The opportunity set for direct lending

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.

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Understanding direct lending

Learn more about the direct lending asset class, including borrower trends over time, the evolution of the BDC fund structure, and the potential benefits for both borrowers and investors.

Borrower trends over time in direct lending

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.

Borrower trends over time in direct lending open icon

Borrower trends over time in direct lending

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.

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Potential benefits for borrowers

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

BDC Evolution open icon

BDC Evolution

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.

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Potential benefits for investors

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.

Reasons to consider direct lending

Direct lending provides investors with access to the private markets alongside three key potential benefits.
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Attractive income potential

Direct loans have historically earned higher yields compared to traditional fixed income

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Capital preservation

With senior secured loans and tighter lending covenants, direct lending may offer risk mitigation measures.

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Differentiated exposure

Direct lending offers investors exposure to private companies across a wide range of sectors and end markets.

Blue Owl is a market leader in direct lending

Blue Owl’s approach to direct lending focuses on upper-middle market, sponsor-backed businesses in defensive, non-cyclical industries.
0
deal funnel
$98.1B
AUM
~$ 0 B
originated since inception1
10.2K+
deals reviewed since inception1

A history of strong credit performance

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

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Average annual loss rate 2,3

Breaking down our investment process

Our relationship-oriented approach provides private companies with sizeable commitments to facilitate transactions and support their growth needs with certainty, speed and transparency throughout the investment process.

Origination

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.

 

Breaking down our investment process

Our relationship-oriented approach provides private companies with sizeable commitments to facilitate transactions and support their growth needs with certainty, speed and transparency throughout the investment process.

A proven technology investor

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.

0
deal funnel
$98.1B
AUM
~$ 0 B
originated since inception1
10.2K+
deals reviewed since inception1

Access a rapidly growing, largely non-public market

With 99% of U.S. technology companies not being publicly traded4,5 and software spending forecasted to hit double-digital growth in 20256, technology lending presents a unique access point to a rapidly growing corner of the private markets.

Our solutions

Diversified Lending

Blue Owl Credit Income Corp. (OCIC)

OCIC is a perpetually non-traded business development company (BDC) that provides investors an access points to our diversified lending strategy.

Learn more about OCIC

Technology Lending

Blue Owl Technology Income Corp (OTIC)

OTIC is a perpetually non-traded business development company (BDC) that provides investors an access point to technology lending strategy.

Learn more about OTIC

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Have a question?

Reach out to member of our Private Wealth team today.
Individual investors, please contact your financial advisor for more information.

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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.

There can be no assurances or guarantees that the Fund's or other investment vehicles investment objectives will be realized that the Fund's or other investment vehicle investment strategy will prove successful or that investors will not lose all or a portion of their investment in the Fund.

Furthermore, investors should not construe the performance of any predecessor funds or other investment vehicle as providing any assurances or predictive value regarding future performance of the Fund. 
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.

This material contains information from third party sources which Blue Owl has not verified. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is given by or on behalf of the Blue Owl Entities as to the accuracy, fairness, correctness or completeness of the information or opinions contained in this material and no liability whatsoever (in negligence or otherwise) is accepted by the Blue Owl Entities for any loss howsoever arising, directly or indirectly, from any use of this material or its contents, or otherwise arising in connection therewith.

All investments are subject to risk, including the loss of the principal amount invested. These risks may include limited operating history, uncertain distributions, inconsistent valuation of the portfolio, changing interest rates, leveraging of assets, reliance on the investment advisor, potential conflicts of interest, payment of substantial fees to the investment advisor and the dealer manager, potential illiquidity, and liquidation at more or less than the original amount invested. Diversification will not guarantee profitability or protection against loss. Performance may be volatile, and the NAV may fluctuate.

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