Latest news with #DunPort
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Vertis Invests in DunPort Capital Management to Drive European Private Credit Expansion
Strategic Partnership Supports DunPort's Ongoing Fundraising and Growth Across Continental Europe LONDON and DUBLIN, May 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- DunPort Capital Management ("DunPort"), a leading private credit manager, and Vertis Capital Partners ("Vertis"), a UK-based alternative investment firm focused on asset-backed finance and private credit, today announced a strategic long-term partnership. As part of the transaction Vertis will take an initial minority stake in DunPort which is expected to increase in the future based on various milestones. DunPort's Executive Directors Pat Walsh and Ross Morrow will continue to lead the business. The strategic partnership strengthens DunPort's position as a premier lender to lower mid-market companies across Europe. Since inception in 2017, DunPort has deployed over €1.3 billion to 68 borrowers across its core markets. The investment aligns with DunPort's fundraising for Willow Corporate Credit DAC, its fourth private credit fund, which aims to raise up to €1 billion to expand its lending platform across selected European jurisdictions. DunPort announced a €200 million cornerstone commitment from their existing Investors for Willow in December 2024 and continues to actively fundraise for its lower mid-market credit strategy. Through the transaction, DunPort will collaborate closely with Vertis and its affiliate, Henry Costa Partners ("Henry Costa"), a specialist merchant bank, to accelerate institutional fundraising and provide tailored fundraising solutions to channel capital from insurance companies and other long-term investors into the real economy. As part of the strategic partnership: Dermot Browne, former CEO of Aviva Ireland and a former senior executive at Zurich Insurance, joins DunPort's Board as an Independent Non-Executive Director. Ralf Ackermann, co-founder of Vertis, will join DunPort's Investment Committee. Henrik Matsen, founder of Henry Costa Partners, also joins DunPort's Board of Directors serving alongside its Chairman David O'Flanagan and the existing NED's Iain Burnett and Eugenee Mulhern. Ralf Ackermann, co-founder of Vertis, said:"DunPort has built an outstanding franchise with rigorous and disciplined credit selection focusing on downside protection. Our investment reflects Vertis' strategy to back high-quality platforms across Europe and help scale them through enhanced institutional connectivity and structuring expertise." Pat Walsh, Executive Director at DunPort, commented:"This partnership marks an exciting new chapter for DunPort. The combination of Vertis' institutional relationships and Henry Costa's structuring expertise will be invaluable as we continue to scale our platform and expand our geographical reach in a targeted way. The addition of Dermot and Henrik to our Board further strengthens our governance as we enter this next phase of growth." Ross Morrow, Executive Director at DunPort, added:"Through our partnership with Vertis and Henry Costa, we are well-positioned to accelerate DunPort's growth across key European markets, including the Benelux, DACH and Nordic regions, while continuing to serve Ireland and the UK. Their combined expertise complements our proven credit and origination strengths, enabling us to target larger, more complex transactions in the lower mid-market while maintaining the disciplined investment approach that has been central to our success." Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Ashcombe Advisers LLP and McCann FitzGerald LLP acted as financial and legal advisers to DunPort. William Fry LLP acted as legal counsel to Vertis. About Vertis Capital Partners Vertis Capital Partners is a London-based alternative investment firm specializing in private credit and asset-backed finance ("ABF") across the UK and Europe. Led by former Apollo and Searchlight executives, Vertis builds and scales high-quality credit platforms with a disciplined focus on downside protection. About DunPort Capital Management DunPort Capital Management is a Dublin-based private credit manager providing flexible financing solutions to lower mid-market companies across Europe. Since its inception in 2017, DunPort has deployed approximately €1.3bn and established a strong track record of disciplined underwriting and active portfolio management. About Henry Costa Partners Henry Costa Partners is an independent merchant bank serving insurers, banks, and investment managers across two core divisions: Advice & Principal Investments and Capital Markets. The firm is built on deep alignment of interest, investing its own capital alongside clients. With a culture rooted in humility, trust, and long-term partnership, Henry Costa is committed to client-centricity and unwavering collaboration at every level. Media Contacts For information on Vertis Capital Partners, please contact: media@ For information on DunPort Capital Management, please contact: View original content: SOURCE Vertis Capital Partners Limited Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Irish Times
27-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
UK firm to take stake in DunPort Capital Management
A UK investment firm is to take a minority stake in Dublin-based private credit business DunPort Capital Management after the two sides agreed a 'strategic long-term partnership.' Vertis Capital Partners will take an initial stake in DunPort which is expected to grow over time, DunPort said in a statement. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. 'Through the transaction, DunPort will collaborate closely with Vertis and its affiliate, Henry Costa Partners, a specialist merchant bank, to accelerate institutional fundraising and provide tailored fundraising solutions to channel capital from insurance companies and other long-term investors into the real economy,' DunPort said. The company's executive directors, Pat Walsh and Ross Morrow, will remain leading the DunPort business. Under the agreement, former Aviva Ireland boss Dermot Browne will join DunPort's board while Ralf Ackermann, a co-founder of Vertis, will join DunPort's investment committee. Henry Costa Partners founder, Henrik Matsen, is also added to the DunPort board. READ MORE 'The combination of Vertis' institutional relationships and Henry Costa's structuring expertise will be invaluable as we continue to scale our platform and expand our geographical reach in a targeted way,' Mr Walsh said. Mr Morrow added: 'Through our partnership with Vertis and Henry Costa, we are well-positioned to accelerate DunPort's growth across key European markets, including the Benelux, DACH and Nordic regions, while continuing to serve Ireland and the UK. [ 'My first proper job was Ents Officer at UCD. It was incredible' Opens in new window ] [ Why we decided to relocate the headquarters of our AI company from the US to Ireland Opens in new window ] 'Their combined expertise complements our proven credit and origination strengths, enabling us to target larger, more complex transactions in the lower mid-market while maintaining the disciplined investment approach that has been central to our success.' The deal comes on the heels of the firm completing the so-called first close of its latest fund aimed at small and medium-sized companies in Ireland and elsewhere. The €200 million direct lending fund known as Willow Corporate Credit is backed by a €100 million commitment from the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF), along with other institutional investors including the European Investment Fund and the Construction Workers' Pension Scheme.
Irish Independent
09-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Investment firm DunPort to get £90m funding from UK bank
The company, which finances debt capital to businesses in Ireland, the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, will receive the funding – a £40m uplift on an original funding amount – from British Business Bank to support lower mid-market companies based in the UK through its co-investment vehicle, Alder. Alder provides tailored debt capital solutions to companies that have a turnover of less than £100m that are predominantly based, headquartered or operating in the UK. Since last year, Alder has invested £24m across five portfolio companies. It co-invests with DunPort-managed funds including Oak Corporate Credit DAC and Willow Corporate Credit DAC. 'The UK is a strategic market for DunPort and one in which we are continuing to experience strong and sustained demand from a wide range of sponsors, advisers and business owners for flexible debt solutions,' said Pat Walsh, executive director of DunPort. 'The investment will help increase our capacity and will help enhance our position as an alternative debt capital provider in the UK alongside our other core markets of Ireland and the Benelux region.' Founded in 2017, DunPort says it has advanced over €1bn to 70 companies since its formation and holds over €800m in assets. The company has an investment team of 20 professionals spread around Dublin, London and Amsterdam. Currently, it works to offer flexible debt and hybrid capital funding for SMEs and mid-sized corporates across Ireland. DunPort investors include the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF), the European Investment Fund and a number of other institutional investors. Earlier this year, DunPort said it completed the first close of a €200m fund for Irish SMEs with the help of ISIF. It said it aimed to support companies with earnings of up to €10m. Mr Walsh confirmed it will continue to work with businesses in Ireland and the UK, while it works to expand its services with companies in the Benelux region. The British Business Bank has financed around 64,000 small businesses with £17.4bn since it was set up in 2014. Managing director Adam Kelly said its intention was to drive sustainable growth for SMEs.
