NavigatingtheRisksofPrivateCreditInvesting:RoadmapforAllocators
The global private credit market has expanded dramatically over the past decade, now surpassing US $2 trillion in assets under management, according to the International Monetary Fund. Pension funds and other institutional investors continue to increase allocations, motivated by attractive yield premiums of 200–400 bp relative to comparable public credit instruments. However, this expansion coincides with mounting vulnerabilities: structural illiquidity, weakening underwriting discipline, and increasing exposure to macroeconomic stress. Without robust governance and enhanced stress testing, private credit may pose hidden risks. This paper explores some core risk dimensions: liquidity, underwriting quality, market competition, macro dynamics and manager conflicts, and concludes with practical recommendations for institutional investors.