A new alternative investment management firm has launched in the US, with up to $1.8bn (£1.3bn) in commitments from anchor partners, including Fortress Investment Group and BTG Pactual.
Derby Lane Partners provide capital solutions across asset classes, with an initial focus on commercial real estate credit in North America.
It was founded by Adam Piekarski, who has more than two decades of experience across public and private markets in commercial real estate credit, corporate credit, and private equity.
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Derby Lane has launched with the support of strategic anchor partners BTG Pactual, funds managed by affiliates of Fortress Investment Group, Koch Real Estate Investments, Liberty Mutual Investments, Silver Creek Capital Management, and Stable, who have collectively committed up to $1.8bn to the platform.
Most recently, Piekarski served as the co-head of real estate credit at BDT & MSD Partners, where he co-founded and led the buildout of the investment team and the deployment of more than $5bn of capital for commercial real estate credit investment strategies.
“Today’s market presents an attractive opportunity to invest in commercial real estate debt,” said Piekarski, founder, chief executive and chief investment officer of Derby Lane.
“We have assembled a seasoned team, paired with flexible capital and a differentiated approach to the market, that positions our firm to play offense while others continue to play defense.”
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Among the initial senior members of Derby Lane are Kory Klebanoff, partner, who was previously the co-head of east coast originations at ACORE Capital, and Urian Yap, partner and chief financial officer, who previously served as the chief financial officer of Madison Realty Capital.
Klebanoff will be joined on the investment team by managing directors Matt Doneth, who joins from Apollo Global Management, and Heecheol Pak, previously at Blackstone.
“We manage capital on behalf of leading institutions, including US public pension plans, and seek to back founders who demonstrate investment discipline and a long-term approach to firm building,” added Erik Serrano Berntsen, chief executive and founder of Stable.
“Adam has built and led investment businesses with a clear focus on execution, and we are pleased to participate in the launch of Derby Lane.”
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