ACME Credit Partners, a newly launched New York-based credit-focused investment firm, will provide creative liquidity solutions to the lower middle market.
ACME Credit Partners is led by Peter Eschmann and Jay Rogers — both former Managing Directors at Cerberus Capital Management — along with Charles Widger, an industry veteran. ACME will implement a differentiated strategy to provide solutions for complex, stressed situations and out-of-favor sectors and will invest in both cash-flow and asset-backed type financings. The firm will support a wide range of liquidity events such as working capital financing, growth capital, restructurings, leveraged buyouts, add-on acquisitions, rescue capital, DIPs and exits.
ACME will provide senior secured structures from $10-$150 million to non-sponsor and sponsor-backed companies with $5 million+ EBITDA through term loans, last-out tranches, revolvers and bridge loans.
“The success of the strategy draws on ACME’s deep investment, portfolio management and governance experience,” remarked ACME Chairman Charles Widger. “ACME’s seasoned team will provide a differentiated approach to private credit investing that we believe will benefit all stakeholders.”
With over $1.3 trillion in assets under management[1], the private credit market is rapidly expanding to offer alternatives to traditional commercial banking with greater flexibility, speed to close and more aligned terms and covenants to suit specific situations.
ACME founders have been involved in 250+ credit investments totaling in excess of $10B over a combined 50+ years of credit market experience at premier North American asset managers across multiple credit cycles. The firm looks forward to growth after the launch of the program, actively looking to bring on additional senior-level management positions to support its momentum.
“We are pleased to mark this announcement with strong support from our investor base — who have been supportive of this strategy from day one,” Managing Partner Jay Rogers commented. “We have made inroads in developing our team as we continue to evaluate opportunities and deploy our investable capital.”
In commenting on the launch of the strategy, Managing Partner Peter Eschmann said, “We believe there is an exciting future for the private credit markets, and we expect our innovative approach of opportunistic investment strategies to be beneficial to our partner companies and investors regardless of market conditions.”