Shares of alternative asset manager Blue Owl Capital Inc. (OWL.US) declined on Friday, falling more than 5.6% to $9.85 at the time of reporting. The drop followed media reports indicating the company has exposure to a collapsed UK real estate lending firm, drawing market attention. According to reports, London-based Century Capital Partners entered administration in February this year. Market sources stated that Blue Owl Capital provided funding for the highest-risk tranche of loans issued by the firm. The report also noted that UK bank NatWest Group (NWG.US) is among the senior creditors of Century Capital. Affected by the news, NatWest Group shares also fell 2.22% to $15.45. RSM UK Restructuring Advisory, the firm handling Century Capital’s administration, indicated that it expects to fully recover approximately £95 million in debt, which has somewhat eased concerns over potential losses. In recent years, Blue Owl Capital has expanded rapidly in the private credit space, though recent pressures on the firm have increased. Last month, the company permanently suspended redemptions for a $1.6 billion private credit fund and sold roughly $1.4 billion in loan assets to pension funds and its own insurance unit, raising further questions about its asset quality and liquidity.
Comments