Blue Owl BDCs Reach $1.4B Deal with Four Investors
Certain Blue Owl BDCs announced that they have entered into separate definitive agreements with four leading North American public pension and insurance investors to opportunistically sell $1.4B of direct lending investments at 99.7% of par value as of February 12. The settlement of the sales is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026.
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- Loan Portfolio Sale: Blue Owl Capital successfully identified four buyers for a $1.4 billion loan portfolio, selling the loans at 99.7% of par value, which indicates strong market demand and aids the firm in addressing investor cash return pressures.
- Buyer Composition: The buyers include Blue Owl's own insurance firm, Kuvare, along with three major pension funds: California Public Employees' Retirement System, Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System, and British Columbia Investment Management Corp., reflecting growing interest from pension funds in private credit assets.
- Liquidity Management: This loan sale is part of Blue Owl's strategy to manage liquidity in response to a surge in redemptions from its Blue Owl Capital Corp II fund, as a previous plan to return capital through a merger with a publicly traded vehicle was abandoned due to scrutiny over potential losses, showcasing the firm's adaptability in liquidity management.
- Industry Trend Warning: Analysts warn that the increasing ties between private credit and the insurance industry could complicate risk monitoring within the non-bank financial sector, raising concerns for regulators and investors about where risks may be accumulating.
- Asset Sale Scale: Blue Owl Capital announced the sale of a $600 million asset portfolio at book value, representing approximately 35% of OBDC II's total assets, with plans to distribute most proceeds to shareholders, thereby enhancing shareholder returns and market confidence.
- Stock Buyback Program: The company repurchased $148 million worth of stock at an average discount of 14% to net asset value during the quarter, which not only increased NAV per share but also reflected management's confidence in the long-term value of the company.
- Stable Financial Performance: OBDC reported adjusted net investment income of $0.36 per share for the fourth quarter, consistent with the prior quarter, while NAV per share stood at $14.81, demonstrating the company's stability and resilience in an uncertain market environment.
- Cautious Future Outlook: Management indicated that lower base rates and tighter spreads on new assets are expected to impact future earnings; although the regular dividend of $0.37 per share will be maintained for now, ongoing evaluations will be conducted to adapt to market changes.

Blue Owl Capital's Decision: Blue Owl Capital has decided to halt quarterly redemptions at one of its private-credit funds, impacting its share prices.
Market Reaction: The move has negatively affected the shares of other alternative asset managers, including Blackstone, Ares Management, and Apollo Global Management, who are also involved in private credit.

Investment Strategy: The Blue Owl president emphasizes a proactive approach to investing, focusing on buying stock rather than just deploying capital in the market.
Market Engagement: The statement reflects a commitment to actively engage with market opportunities, suggesting a strategic shift in how capital is managed and utilized.

- Investor Expectations: Investors in non-traded debt funds should anticipate a quarterly evaluation of a 5% return on capital from the firm.
- Firm's Commitment: The firm is committed to providing consistent returns to its investors every quarter.

Credit Quality in Traded Debt: Craig Packer, head of credit, emphasizes that the quality of traded debt remains strong.
Expectations for Continued Strength: Packer expresses confidence that this strong credit quality is expected to continue.





