European private credit belongs in portfolios now
Stéphane Blanchoz | BNP Paribas Asset Management | 20 August 2025 | 0.50 CE
Private credit is a maturing asset class globally but expanding rapidly in Europe (outpacing growth in the US). Europe provides compelling geographic and sector diversification, and a strong bias towards resilient sectors with high visibility on cash flows. European spreads tend to price at a premium to their US counterparts, the market is less mature, more fragmented and provides higher interest cover and lower default rates. Don’t discount the untapped potential of European low to mid-market companies that can offer lower leverage and spread pick-up op...