Hedgeweek and Private Equity Wire have announced the winners of the inaugural US Credit Awards, which recognise excellence in fund performance and service provider excellence across credit funds.
The awards were presented at an exclusive ceremony and networking event today (Thursday, 22 June), at Convene 101 Park Avenue, New York.
Voting for the awards was conducted via an online poll, where participants were asked to make their choice among the shortlisted firms in each category.
The manager categories cover a wide spectrum of credit strategies and fund types, with separate sections for hedge fund and private equity credit specialists. The service provider categories span essential services across the credit fund eco-system.
Pre-selection data for the awards was provided by Bloomberg, based on annualised returns over the 12 months from 31 May 2021 to 31 May 2022.
The winners are:
PRIVATE EQUITY FUNDS
Best Performance Over $1 Billion – Debt (PE) – Oaktree Capital Management (Oaktree Special Situations Fund II LP)
Best Performance Under $1 Billion – Debt (PE) – HPS Investment Partners LLC (HPS Special Situations Opportunity Fund LP)
Best Overall Performance: Debt – Mezzanine – Veronis Suhler Stevenson LLC (VSS Structured Capital IV LP)
Best Overall Performance: Debt – Special Opportunity  Francisco Partners (FP Credit Partners)
Best Overall Performance: Debt – Distressed – GoldenTree Asset Management
Best Overall Performance Under $1 Billion – Debt: Loans/Credit – Benefit Street Partners LLC (Benefit Street Partners Senior Secured Opportunities Fund II LP)
Best Overall Performance Over $1 Billion – Debt: Loans/Credit – Ares Management Corporation
HEDGE FUNDS
Best Credit Hedge Fund – Under $500 Million Blue Elephant Capital Management LLC (Blue Elephant Specialty Finance Fund LP)
Best Credit Hedge Fund – Over $500 Million – Saba Capital Management, L.P.
Best Credit Hedge Fund – Multi-Strategy – Prime Meridian Capital Management LLC (Prime Meridian Income Fund LP)
Best Credit Hedge Fund – Structured Credit – Hudson Cove Capital Management LLC (Hudson Cove Credit Opportunity Fund Ltd)
Best Credit Hedge Fund – Long/Short – Coherence Capital Partners/Lazard Asset Management (Lazard Coherence Long/Short Credit Master Fund, Ltd)
Best Credit Hedge Fund – Emerging Market Debt – Contrarian Capital Management LLC (Contrarian Emerging Markets LP)
Best Overall Credit Fund – Hi2 Global
SERVICE PROVIDERS
Best Audit Service – RSM
Best Compliance Service – Kroll
Best Custodian Service – BNY Mellon
Best Cyber Security Firm – Drawbridge Partners, LLC
Best Data and Information Provider – Reorg
Best Debt / Loan Administrator – Alter Domus
Best Administrator – Private Credit – GLAS Americas
Best Fund Structuring Service – Dechert LLP
Best FX Provider – MillTechFX by Millennium Global
Best Law Firm – Lending and Securities – Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
Best Managed Service Provider – Options IT
Best Middle Office Services – SS&C Technologies
Best Portfolio Management System – Allvue Systems
Best Ratings Provider – Fitch Ratings
Best Recruiter – Rutherford Search
Best Tax Advisory Firm – Grassi Advisors & Accountants
Best Trading and Execution Technology – SS&C Eze
Best Valuation Service – Houlihan Lokey
