Charlie Byrne, Managing Director of Jefferies Credit Partners, joined Julie Cooling, Founder and CEO of RIA Channel, to discuss the firm’s history in the private credit markets.
Jefferies Credit Partners is a division of Jefferies Finance, which is a joint venture between Jefferies and Mass Mutual. The firm invests in senior-secured first-lien loans to sponsor-backed companies. The investment approach is designed to be conservative, investing in high-quality companies with low levels of leverage and a significant equity capital contribution from private equity sponsors.
With its 20 years in private credit, Jefferies Credit Partners has broad offerings, including structured credit and US and European direct lending. Jefferies Credit Partners has the right of first refusal of all loans going through the Jefferies Investment Bank. This produces significant deal flow from Jefferies’ 1,900 investment bankers covering 800 sponsors.
Jefferies Credit Partners serves the needs of the RIA community with engagement, touchpoints, and product offerings to meet their current and future needs. Products designed for RIAs have liquidity and structural requirements different from those intended for other investor types. The firm engages with RIAs through a dedicated distribution team and client enrichment opportunities.
Byrne sees the private credit market as very strong, with strong deal flow and growing M&A activity. Private debt continues to be a preferred financing vehicle for private equity sponsors.
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