Krista Giovacco reports on the increased retail interest in private credit that has fueled explosive growth in interval funds—semi-liquid vehicles that offer limited liquidity alongside access to otherwise illiquid strategies. A record 50 new interval funds launched in 2024, with 55 more expected in the next six months, according to XA Investments. Yet this rapid expansion has raised concerns about the durability of these products in the face of market stress.
Interval funds offer quarterly redemptions, typically between 5% and 25%, but many fund managers are underprepared for sustained periods of net outflows. “Some fund managers are not necessarily thinking about providing that quarterly liquidity, and they certainly may not be thinking about providing that over the long-term,” said Jason Mandinach of PIMCO.
Cliffwater’s Daniel Lepore emphasized that many funds lack dedicated liability management teams, putting investor liquidity at risk. The largest interval fund, Cliffwater’s $29B Corporate Lending Fund, actively manages redemptions through multiple tools—loan repayments, revolving credit, and new inflows—but not all funds are as robustly equipped.
Rising retail flows add complexity. “Only relying on inflows to meet redemptions is a real dangerous game,” warned Kevin Prunty of Longwater Capital Solutions. PIMCO’s Mandinach noted that most credit funds have only experienced growth—not the challenge of net redemptions.
Despite the risks, the appeal of private credit yields and ease of access continues to draw investors. “The interval fund has daily NAV and doesn’t require subscription documents,” said Kimberly Flynn, president of XA Investments. “Plus, with a yield north of 10%, private credit interval funds are selling like hotcakes.”
Flynn noted that while the original interval funds have 20-year track records, today’s crop is far younger. “Fifty percent of funds in market today have a track record short of three years,” she said, stressing the need for investor education around the liquidity limits of these products.
Recent SEC guidance relaxing a 15% cap on private assets in registered funds may further accelerate growth—but it also heightens the need for disciplined liquidity planning and risk management.
To read the full article: Click Here*
* Link requires a subscription login to access the article.