March 6 (Reuters) – Alternative asset manager Blue Owl has a 36 million pound ($48 million) exposure to Century Capital Partners Ltd, a London-based property lender that entered administration last month, Bloomberg News reported on Friday.
The U.S. private-credit firm, which manages $307 billion in assets, financed the riskiest slice of loans originated by Century, a bridging lender focused on high-end central London property, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter.
Century entered administration with about 95 million pounds of total debt, days before a larger rival, Market Financial Solutions, fell into a UK form of insolvency, according to the report.
Both companies relied on funding lines from private credit firms and banks to originate short-term property loans for borrowers who often cannot secure traditional bank financing, typically at higher interest rates, Bloomberg News reported, and added that Century had not been accused of fraud by any creditor.
Century Capital and Blue Owl did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.
Blue Owl has come under investor scrutiny in 2026 as liquidity pressures, withdrawal curbs and a major asset sale raised broader questions about the emerging strains in the private-credit market.
The collapse of Market Financial Solutions has only deepened fears over lending standards and the fast-growing market for private finance.
SHARES UNDER PRESSURE
Blue Owl said last month it would sell $1.4 billion of assets across three funds, return part of the proceeds to some investors and pay down debt. It permanently removed an option for investors in the smallest vehicle, mainly wealthy individuals, to withdraw some funds every quarter.
The decision impacted its shares by stoking concerns around private-lending standards and a liquidity crunch in the sector.
Blue Owl shares, down more than 6% on Friday, have fallen more than 30% in 2026 so far. The stock had lost nearly 49% of its value in the last 12 months.
($1 = 0.7485 pounds)
(Reporting by Pritam Biswas in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel and Shilpi Majumdar)
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