Brian Ponte reports on the evolution of the $227 billion interval and tender offer fund market, which is shifting from a focus on simple access to alternative assets toward an emphasis on outcomes. While investors have flocked to private credit, issuers are increasingly exploring differentiated strategies and hybrid approaches to maintain growth and relevance.
There are now 288 interval and tender offer funds in the market, including 46 launched in the past year, according to XA Investments data. Of those new funds, 46% are focused on private credit. First-quarter flows underscore the trend, with $3.6 billion directed to direct lending funds and another $3 billion to multi-strategy credit and asset-backed lending vehicles, XA Investments research shows.
Fund managers are beginning to diversify beyond credit. Kimberly Flynn, president at XA Investments, noted that private equity and hedge fund replication strategies are growing. She also pointed to “white space” opportunities in sector-specific or thematic funds, highlighting recent filings for products targeting robotics, AI, and sports media.
Despite innovation, fees remain high. The average management fee for non-listed closed-end funds is 123 basis points, and the average net expense ratio is 244 basis points, according to XA Investments data. Credit remains the largest segment of the market, with $95.9 billion in assets across 96 funds, XA Investments research shows.
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