BNP Paribas Asset Management launches private debt unit

The banking giant’s investment arm has is looking to capitalise on the fast growing Alternative Credit market

The banking giant’s investment arm is looking to capitalise on the fast growing Alternative Credit market.

BNP Paribas Asset Management has created a dedicated Private Debt & Real Assets investment group to realise its ambition to become a leader in the fast growing market.

Headed by David Bouchoucha, the new unit will invest in syndicated loans, direct loans and private bonds that finance corporates or real assets and consists of three main teams.

The Real Assets, SME (Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises) Lending and Structured Finance team, headed by Laurent Gueunier, is positioning itself for future growth through the recent addition of three team heads: Philippe Deloffre joined in March as Head of Real Estate Debt, Karen Azoulay was appointed Head of Infrastructure Debt in April and Christophe Carrasco joined as Head of SME Lending, in May.

BNP Paribas Asset Management is aims to accelerate its development across the full spectrum of private debt solutions, after having successfully closed a €500 million European SME lending fund in September 2016.

The Global Loans team, headed by Vanessa Ritter consist of 20 staff across New York and Paris, and specialises in leveraged loan financing. It manages leveraged loan funds and collateralised loan obligations (CLOs), and is looking to expand and innovate in the area of leveraged loans and mid-market financing.

The SME Advanced Solutions is a new team headed by Fabrice Susini, who also recently joined BNP Paribas Asset Management. It consists of an innovative alternative pan-European SME lending platform.

David Bouchoucha, Head of Private Debt & Real Assets at BNP Paribas Asset Management, says the firm will combine BNP Paribas Group’s origination with “innovative external origination channels.”

“Private debt and real assets are increasingly becoming an essential part of investors’ asset allocation, because they bring steady income and diversification of credit exposure,” he said.