Targeting Lower Mid-Market Companies in Ireland, the UK, and Benelux
Backed by cornerstone investment from the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF)
Dublin, 17 January 2025 — DunPort Capital Management (“DunPort”), a leading Dublin based alternative investment manager, today announced the first close of its €200m SME-focused direct lending fund, Willow Corporate Credit DAC (“Willow”). The fund is backed by a €100m commitment from the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (“ISIF”) and other institutional investors including the European Investment Fund and the Construction Workers’ Pension Scheme. Willow remains open to additional institutional and private investors ahead of a targeted final close of €500m.
Willow will target established businesses with earnings between €1m and €10m, providing tailored financing for buyouts, refinancings, recapitalisations, acquisitions and growth capital. The fund will continue to focus on DunPort’s core markets of Ireland and the UK while continuing to expand its reach into the Benelux region.
The continued expansion of DunPort’s offering is underpinned by the growing demand for private markets. DunPort previously launched Oak Corporate Credit DAC (€335m in 2021) and Elm Corporate Credit DAC (€283m in 2018). In addition, DunPort continues to invest Alder Corporate Credit DAC, the British Business Investments Ltd backed £50m fund established in 2024 which targets SMEs in the UK and the €50m ISIF backed Recovery and Growth fund launched in 2021 to support Irish businesses.
DunPort and ISIF’s partnership has realised over €530m worth of business loans in the Irish market since 2018.
