Goldman Sachs, HSBC and Fortress Investment Group are participating in a $150m private credit financing for United Saudi Company, marking one of Saudi Arabia’s largest recent transactions involving international alternative lenders, according to Bloomberg.The financing reportedly involves regional investment managers Ruya Partners and Amwal Capital Partners and represents Fortress’s first private credit investment in the kingdom. The transaction is among the first major international private credit deals in Saudi Arabia since the outbreak of the US-Iran conflict in February, which has intensified liquidity pressures across the region.Saudi Arabia is increasingly turning to private capital to support its economic diversification programme as tighter bank liquidity and geopolitical instability constrain traditional lending. Demand is particularly strong among small and medium-sized businesses, while asset-backed lending and other specialist financing structures are attracting international investors, including Apollo Global Management, Citigroup and Jefferies.The transaction comes amid growing institutional interest in Middle Eastern private credit. Janus Henderson recently raised almost $200m for its regional private credit strategy, while Mubadala- and PIF-backed Ruya Partners is targeting $400m for a dedicated fund.
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