LCM Partners Announces First €3.8 Billion Close for Credit Opportunities 5 Strategy
On September 16, 2025, LCM Partners, a prominent player in the European private credit management landscape and a member of Brookfield's strategic credit partners, proudly announced the first close of their flagship strategy, Credit Opportunities 5 (COPS 5), securing an impressive €3.8 billion. This figure stems from commitments made to their mixed fund and accounts managed by individual investors. Such a substantial close reflects LCM's crucial steps toward achieving a planned capital increase of €6 billion for the COPS 5 strategy.
The Credit Opportunities Strategy (COPS) has consistently maintained investor confidence, with strong backing reiterated over successive fund years, highlighting the strategy's resilience across various market cycles. Brookfield has also pledged an additional €600 million to the COPS strategy, raising their total commitment to €1.2 billion. This news position aligns with LCM's vision to capitalize on consumer and SME lending opportunities as banks withdraw from lending activities, and regulations impose stricter credit sale rules.
LCM continues to receive robust support from some of the world's leading institutional investors, including public and private pension funds, insurance companies, sovereign wealth funds, and foundations across Europe, North America, and Asia. The firm's CEO, Paul Burdell, expressed pride in reaching this pivotal milestone for COPS 5, emphasizing the enduring loyalty from existing and new investors that form the backbone of LCM's strong investor base.
This confidence and loyalty from the customer base, coupled with increased commitment from Brookfield, showcase the robustness and success of their investment strategy. Burdell points out the emerging opportunities for granular consumer and SME loans throughout Europe as more attractive than ever due to the evolving banking landscape. Craig Noble, the CEO of Brookfield Credit, comments on the successful first close for COPS 5, highlighting LCM's strong private credit issuance platform and their solid relationships with global investors. The trust in LCM's team and their asset-backed investment strategies solidifies Brookfield's continued partnership.
Headquartered in London, LCM Partners is part of the LC Financial Holdings Group, boasting nearly 2,000 employees across 25 locations in 11 countries in Europe. This differentiated approach focuses on acquiring granular portfolios of consumer and SME loans throughout Europe, managing a significant loan volume exceeding €120 billion. LCM has partnered strategically with Brookfield since 2018, enhancing the range and depth of their offerings in the private credit domain.
As a significant player, LCM Partners has built a robust track record in credit investing since their inception in 1999. With a team experienced in asset management, investment banking, strategic consultancy, mergers and acquisitions, and business intelligence, they have pioneered in the European consumer and SME lending sector. The leadership team's extensive experience of over 22 years underlines their expertise in navigating market complexities.
Brookfield, on the other hand, is a globally recognized alternative asset manager based in New York, managing over $1 trillion across renewable energy, infrastructure, private equity, real estate, and credit. Their long-term investment strategy is geared towards tangible assets and essential service companies central to the global economy. Brookfield offers various alternative investment products tailored to public and private pensions, foundations, sovereign wealth funds, financial institutions, insurance companies, and private investors.
In summary, LCM Partners achieving a first close of €3.8 billion in their Credit Opportunities 5 strategy marks a notable milestone that not only reinforces investor confidence in their capabilities but also signifies a growing market opportunity in private credit as traditional banking avenues continue to evolve. With ongoing support and a cohesive strategic vision, LCM and Brookfield are well-positioned to navigate future financial landscapes and capitalize on emerging lending opportunities.