Key Takeaways
- • Apollo Global Management has launched the European Credit Company (ECC), a private lending venture with more than €10 billion in total lending capacity at launch, according to FinTech Futures.
- • ECC is focused exclusively on European performing credit, including corporate and asset-backed lending, and will be supported by long-term capital led by Apollo funds and affiliates.
- • Standard Chartered, Athora, Norinchukin Bank, Aranda Principal Strategies, and Abu Dhabi Investment Council of Mubadala Investment Company have committed capital to the platform.
- • Apollo rehired Giacomo Petrobelli as ECC CEO, with Christian Meissner, former head of investment banking at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Credit Suisse, as chairman.
- • ECC launches with five focus asset classes and offices in Frankfurt, Jersey, London, Luxembourg City, and Milan, with plans to expand into additional markets.
Summary
New York-listed asset manager Apollo Global Management has launched a new private lending venture, the European Credit Company (ECC), aimed at increasing financing for businesses and infrastructure projects across Europe. According to FinTech Futures, Apollo said the platform is "focused exclusively on European performing credit, including corporate and asset-backed lending," with total lending capacity of more than €10 billion at launch. That capacity is supported by long-term capital investments led by Apollo funds and affiliates. Apollo reported $1.05 trillion in assets under management in June 2026.
Five institutional investors and financial institutions are supporting ECC with committed capital: Standard Chartered, Athora, Norinchukin Bank, Aranda Principal Strategies, and Abu Dhabi Investment Council of Mubadala Investment Company. The ECC website lists five focus asset classes at launch: mid-market direct corporate, infrastructure, direct lending, commercial real estate, and asset-backed finance. In addition to sourcing its own transactions, ECC will originate assets through strategic partnerships with European financial institutions and has direct access to Apollo's broader European credit platform.
The platform is operating with offices in Frankfurt, Jersey, London, Luxembourg City, and Milan, and Apollo has said it plans to "expand to additional markets in the coming quarters." Apollo has rehired Giacomo Petrobelli as chief executive. Petrobelli previously served Apollo as an advisor between 2015 and 2018 and most recently was chief investment officer at Oldenburgische Landesbank in Germany. Christian Meissner will serve as ECC chairman; he previously headed investment banking at both Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Credit Suisse.
Petrobelli said the goal is to "build ECC into a premier pan-European credit platform, focused exclusively on the region, with deep local relationships, differentiated sourcing and flexible solutions that span all credit types."
Five institutional investors and financial institutions are supporting ECC with committed capital: Standard Chartered, Athora, Norinchukin Bank, Aranda Principal Strategies, and Abu Dhabi Investment Council of Mubadala Investment Company. The ECC website lists five focus asset classes at launch: mid-market direct corporate, infrastructure, direct lending, commercial real estate, and asset-backed finance. In addition to sourcing its own transactions, ECC will originate assets through strategic partnerships with European financial institutions and has direct access to Apollo's broader European credit platform.
The platform is operating with offices in Frankfurt, Jersey, London, Luxembourg City, and Milan, and Apollo has said it plans to "expand to additional markets in the coming quarters." Apollo has rehired Giacomo Petrobelli as chief executive. Petrobelli previously served Apollo as an advisor between 2015 and 2018 and most recently was chief investment officer at Oldenburgische Landesbank in Germany. Christian Meissner will serve as ECC chairman; he previously headed investment banking at both Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Credit Suisse.
Petrobelli said the goal is to "build ECC into a premier pan-European credit platform, focused exclusively on the region, with deep local relationships, differentiated sourcing and flexible solutions that span all credit types."
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