EUROPEAN DIRECT LENDING

Patrick joined the international business of Federated Hermes in June 2015 to launch and manage the Direct Lending strategy, which invests in senior loans to UK and European mid-market businesses. In this role, Patrick is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Direct Lending Funds and has ultimate authority on which transactions to put forward for investment by the funds, subject to Investment Committee approval. He was previously Head of Direct Lending in London at Tikehau Capital, and Partner at WCAS Fraser Sullivan Investment Management, where he established the firm’s European loan business. Prior to that, Patrick managed loan portfolios in excess of $4bn and $10bn as managing director at the Lehman Brothers Estate and head of European and Asian loan portfolio management and restructuring at Lehman Brothers respectively. He has a Bachelor of Commerce in Business Administration and French from the University of Edinburgh.

Laura joined the international business of Federated Hermes in November 2015, when the private debt platform was being established. Her role has developed from analysing potential fund investments to now also include managing the Direct Lending team. Laura joined from GE Capital, where she was an associate in its mid-market leveraged finance execution team. At GE, Laura focused on arranging financings for European private equity-backed acquisitions funded through senior, second lien, mezzanine and unitranche facilities. Prior to this, Laura worked for three years at Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi in its acquisition finance team in London, focusing on opportunities in European large-cap leveraged finance transactions and on portfolio management. Her previous role was at Allied Irish Bank in Dublin in its Corporate Banking North America division, in which she analysed US large-cap and middle-market leveraged finance transactions, and performed portfolio management functions. Laura has an Economics degree from University College Dublin. She is a CFA charterholder.