Polus Capital Management
Polus Capital Management is a London-based private alternative credit manager with ~$14bn AUM, investing across Leveraged Credit, Special Situations and Structured Credit strategies for institutional investors in the UK and US.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Polus Capital Management does
Polus Capital Management is a London-headquartered private alternative credit investment manager, authorised and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority and registered with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, with approximately $14 billion in assets under management and advice as of 31 December 2025. The firm was formed when Bybrook Capital (founded by Robert Dafforn in 2014) was acquired by Cairn Capital in 2021, with the combined entity rebranded as Polus Capital Management in 2022. It operates three complementary investment verticals — Leveraged Credit, Special Situations and Structured Credit — deploying capital across the capital structure and liquidity spectrum using a relative value framework grounded in intensive fundamental credit analysis and an emphasis on capital preservation.
The firm's product set includes the €890 million Europe-focused Special Situations Fund (closed November 2025, exceeding target) and CLO vehicles managed through Polus Capital Management (US) Inc. and the Cairn Loan Investments partnerships. Recent activity includes participation in Videndum's £70m refinancing (with ~£23m of debt converted to equity), a consortium acquisition of Healthscope's ~$1.6bn debt stack alongside Canyon Partners and Elliott Management, the purchase of Arqiva's stake in Macquarie, and the backing of L'Artisan du Chocolat's acquisition of Prestat.
Polus generates revenue through management fees on assets under management and, consistent with alternative credit peers, performance fees or carried interest on investment returns. Distribution is exclusively direct-to-institutional, serving public and corporate pensions, endowments, foundations, sovereign wealth funds, insurance companies and family offices in the UK and US, with no retail or intermediary channels. The senior leadership team — Nicholas Chalmers (CEO), Robert Dafforn (CIO, Opportunistic Credit), Melanie Davison (COO) and Samantha Bartlett (CFO) — averages approximately 30 years of investment management experience, supported by 12 dedicated junior analysts from Sutherland Global Services who have been exclusive to the platform since 2006.
Polus Capital Management firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Polus Capital Management
- Legal name
- Polus Capital Management Limited
- Website
- https://poluscapital.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Polus Capital Management is a London-based private alternative credit manager with ~$14bn AUM, investing across Leveraged Credit, Special Situations and Structured Credit strategies for institutional investors in the UK and US.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Polus Capital Management industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Alternative Credit Investment Management
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394), Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles (525), Other Financial Investment Activities (5239)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282), Investors, Nec (6799), Asset-Backed Securities (6189)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Private Credit / Direct Lending (FSAAAHAG)
Keywords
Where Polus Capital Management is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Polus Capital Management business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Investment Management Fees: The firm generates revenue through management fees charged on assets under management, typical of investment management firms. As a credit-focused alternative asset manager, the firm also likely earns performance fees or carried interest on investment returns, common in special situations and distressed debt strategies.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Others | Private fund investment for institutional investors |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Polus Capital Management product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Polus Capital Management is a private alternative credit investment manager operating three complementary investment verticals: Leveraged Credit, Special Situations, and Structured Credit. The firm invests across the capital structure and liquidity spectrum using a relative value framework grounded in intensive fundamental credit analysis, with capital preservation as a primary emphasis. Investment products are offered exclusively to professional and institutional investors through private funds and managed accounts, with approximately $14bn in AUM as at 31 December 2025.
Product overview
Polus Capital Management is an investment management firm offering three complementary investment verticals: Leveraged Credit, Special Situations, and Structured Credit. The firm operates as an unconstrained investment manager using a relative value framework grounded in intensive fundamental credit analysis with emphasis on capital preservation. The Special Situations strategy is delivered through a dedicated €890 million Europe-focused fund that invests in distressed companies with strong fundamentals during corporate restructuring or market pressure. The three verticals work together to provide flexible capital solutions across the capital structure and liquidity spectrum.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Leveraged Credit Investment in leveraged credit instruments across the capital structure and liquidity spectrum, focusing on companies with strong fundamentals during periods of credit stress or market dislocation. Designed for institutional investors seeking exposure to leveraged credit strategies.
- Special Situations Investment in distressed companies with strong fundamentals during corporate restructuring or pressure, targeting sub-investment grade borrowers facing unsustainable debt loads. Designed for institutional investors seeking exposure to distressed and stressed credit opportunities.
- Europe-Focused Special Situations Fund A Europe-focused special situations fund investing in distressed debt and companies undergoing corporate restructuring, closed at €890 million in November 2025, exceeding its initial target. Offered exclusively to professional and institutional investors through private placement.
- Structured Credit Investment in structured credit instruments and securities, providing capital solutions across complex capital structures. Includes CLO management activities via Polus Capital Management (US) Inc., Cairn Loan Investments LLP (CLI I), and Cairn Loan Investments II LLP (CLI II). Designed for institutional investors seeking structured credit exposure.
Quantifiable outcome
- Closed €890 million Europe-focused special situations fund exceeding initial target
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Polus Capital Management
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Polus Capital Management technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Polus Capital Management partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Polus Capital Management competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Strategic Value Partners: Global special situations and distressed credit manager investing across the capital structure — directly comparable to Polus's special situations strategy and distressed-focused mandates.
- Hayfin Capital Management: London-based alternative credit manager focused on direct lending, special situations, and opportunistic credit across Europe — directly comparable to Polus in geography, strategy, and institutional LP base.
- Pemberton Asset Management: European credit-focused alternative asset manager offering direct lending, mid-market credit, and opportunistic strategies — directly comparable to Polus's Leveraged Credit and Special Situations verticals.
- CVC Credit Partners: European credit arm of CVC, focused on direct lending, special situations, and structured credit — directly comparable across multiple of Polus's three verticals.
- Alcentra: Specialist European and US credit manager (part of Franklin Templeton) covering leveraged loans, high yield, and special situations — closely comparable to Polus's strategy mix.
- Cheyne Capital Management: London-based alternative investment manager with credit, special situations, and real estate strategies — comparable London-based alternative credit platform with similar institutional LP focus.
Broad incumbents
- Canyon Partners: Large multi-strategy alternative investment firm with significant distressed credit capabilities — competed alongside Polus in the Healthscope debt transaction; broader incumbent with overlapping credit mandates.
- Elliott Investment Management: Multi-strategy hedge fund and credit manager with large distressed/special situations franchise — co-invested with Polus in Healthscope; much larger incumbent competing for similar opportunities.
- Oaktree Capital Management: One of the largest global distressed credit and special situations managers — broad incumbent with significant European presence that competes with Polus in stressed/distressed deal flow.
- Ares Management: Large alternative asset manager with a substantial credit franchise spanning direct lending, leveraged finance, and special situations — broad incumbent overlapping with Polus across multiple credit verticals.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Polus Capital Management social profiles
Digital presencePolus Capital Management financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Polus Capital Management leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Polus Capital Management subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Polus Capital Management funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Polus Capital Management M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Polus Capital Management
What does Polus Capital Management do?
Polus Capital Management is a private alternative credit investment manager operating three complementary investment verticals: Leveraged Credit, Special Situations, and Structured Credit. The firm invests across the capital structure and liquidity spectrum using a relative value framework grounded in intensive fundamental credit analysis, with capital preservation as a primary emphasis. Investment products are offered exclusively to professional and institutional investors through private funds and managed accounts, with approximately $14bn in AUM as at 31 December 2025.
Is Polus Capital Management a public or private company?
Polus Capital Management is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Polus Capital Management founded?
Polus Capital Management was founded in 2022. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Polus Capital Management based?
Polus Capital Management is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Polus Capital Management make money?
One revenue line is on record: investment Management Fees.
Who are Polus Capital Management's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Strategic Value Partners, Hayfin Capital Management, Pemberton Asset Management, CVC Credit Partners, Alcentra and Cheyne Capital Management. Broad incumbents are Canyon Partners, Elliott Investment Management, Oaktree Capital Management and Ares Management.
Does Polus Capital Management have an API?
No public API is recorded for Polus Capital Management.
What industry is Polus Capital Management in?
Polus Capital Management's product category is Alternative Credit Investment Management. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAAAHAG, Private Credit / Direct Lending. Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6282.