Capital Solutions

How Capital Solutions Looks Beyond Traditional Lending Parameters

April 2026 – 3 min read

In this Q&A with Private Debt Investor, Michael Searles shares how capital solutions is evolving beyond traditional lending frameworks to support fundamentally strong companies with bespoke financing structures.

How have private markets evolved to create a need for capital solutions?

Over time, the direct lending market has become more closely aligned with the syndicated loan and high yield bond markets, with borrowers increasingly expected to meet a defined set of financial characteristics. Many asset managers operating in the space are focused on scale, which naturally guides them toward opportunities that fit within these established metrics and underwriting frameworks – an approach that is relatively straightforward for LPs to evaluate.

At the same time, a large universe of companies and situations sit just outside these parameters. Capital solutions can be well suited for these businesses. In such situations, lenders can spend more time understanding the counterparty and developing a customised solution that aligns with the company’s needs – be it cashflow flexibility or incremental capital to support growth initiatives. These scenarios often require a more bespoke approach than is typically feasible in the traditional direct lending or high-yield markets.

Increasingly, companies are recognising that the lowest cost of capital is not always the optimal choice. Many are willing to pay a modest premium for a bespoke structure that better supports long-term value creation.

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Headshot of Michael Searles smiling at the camera.

Michael Searles

Head of North America, Capital Solutions

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