NRP Maritime Asset Management announces launching and first close of Premium Maritime Credit Fund
Premium Maritime Credit Fund, a Luxembourg based RAIF had its first close this week backed by significant European institutional investors and family offices. The Fund will now actively pursue building a portfolio of first lien maritime loans with a strong focus on lending to European small to midsize shipping companies, according to NRP's release.
The Fund will be managed by NRP Maritime Asset Management (‘MAM’) as sponsor, owner of the General Partner and Investment Advisor. NRP MAM is an Oslo, Norway based investment manager with a long successful track record managing investments in the maritime industry.
“There is currently great interest in and demand for specialised private debt structures focused on industries where flight of capital is driven mainly by regulation. We believe the timing for a balanced portfolio of attractively priced maritime debt provides an excellent opportunity for our investors to capitalize on the current strong supply/demand imbalance in shipping credit markets,” says Fund Manager, Wilhelm Magelssen in NRP Asset Management.
The Fund is backed by investments from the European Investment Fund (part of the European Investment Bank), Oslo Pensjonsforsikring AS and funds managed on behalf of the Greater London Authority in addition to several Norwegian maritime and non-maritime family offices.
Over USD 110 million of the Fund’s USD 200 million was successfully raised in the first close. NRP MAM is targeting its next closing before the end of the year.
The Fund’s strategy is to provide senior 1st lien debt mainly to ship owning companies with European presence with no opportunity to raise traditional bank debt.
The main advisors for the Fund include Allen Overy and Wikborg Rein (legal), NRP Project Finance AS and South 40 Capital (fund raising).
NRP Maritime Asset Management AS (MAM) is a licensed AIF Manager with focus and expertise on the Maritime sector. MAM has a strong focus on preservation of investor capital in an industry well known for its volatility. Since launching the first fund in 2015, MAM has employed a successful risk mitigating multi-segment strategy, and by staying independent from any deal provider, the team has full access to a strong deal flow through their large international network.
The company is owned by its senior employees together with Ness Risan & Partners (‘NRP Group’)
About NRP Group
\Ness, Risan & Partners AS is an independent and privately owned investment firm. NRP offers direct investment and fund solutions within the real estate, shipping and offshore sectors.