CORDET: Best Alternative Credit Investor United Kingdom 2020
Founded in 2013, CORDET is a specialist credit manager focusing on senior secured direct lending to smaller mid-market companies (typically companies with annual revenues lower than €250 million and EBITDA between €2 and €15 million) within Northern Europe. CORDET has made a number of positive developments both on the fundraising and investing front, both of which have already been widely recognised by the investor community. In April 2019 CORDET was a finalist for the “Best European Direct Lending Fund” by Creditflux. In addition, CORDET was runner up for the “Best Fund Manager” by Growth Finance in September 2019. CORDET was able to successfully raise c.€400 million in its Fund I and segregated managed accounts. Fund I completed 28 transactions with a gross debt value of c.€650m. CORDET is currently actively fundraising and investing from Fund II and has completed 10 transactions with a gross debt value of c.€205m. CORDET sees a role for itself in financing gaps left by those banks and traditional credit providers that have moved away from the European credit markets. As a UNPRI signatory, CORDET has also maintained strong focus on the environmental, social and corporate governance. As a result, for a second year in a row, CORDET were awarded a UNPRI “A+” rating for responsible strategy and governance, placing them in the top 5% of all participants in the fixed income and credit space. The firm seeks out longstanding relationships and is highly selective, concluding a relatively small number of investments each year compared to the number of invitations received. Trust and credit rigour are critical in the selection process and the CORDET team must believe wholeheartedly in the people with whom they are going to be doing business. CORDET boasts an impressive team of finance, risk and investment professionals from a broad mix of European countries. The team co-invest with CORDET’s investors and together own the firm. The CORDET management style is progressive and nurturing with twice-weekly round table meetings where everyone can have a say. Testimonials characterise CORDET professionals as talented, dependable, diligent, nimble, helpful, and commercially minded. The CFI.co judging panel is pleased to name CORDET as winner of the 2020 award for Best Alternative Credit Investor (United Kingdom).
