Blue Owl Capital faces class action amid liquidity issues
Blue Owl Capital Inc. experienced a price decline of 5.05%, crossing below its 5-day SMA. This movement occurs amid broader market strength, with the Nasdaq-100 up 0.67% and the S&P 500 up 0.28%.
The decline is attributed to ongoing legal challenges, including a class action lawsuit alleging misleading statements regarding liquidity issues and asset pressures. Investors are concerned about the company's financial health, particularly following revelations about restricted redemptions in its early private credit fund, which have led to significant losses for investors.
These developments have raised serious questions about Blue Owl's governance and transparency, potentially impacting investor confidence and future performance as the company navigates these legal challenges.
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- Market Capitalization Loss: The software sector's selloff has wiped out nearly $1 trillion in market capitalization, leading the Dow Jones US Asset Managers Index to decline nearly 5% this week, reflecting investor concerns over loan and leverage exposure.
- Declining Private Equity Deal Volumes: Morgan Stanley noted that technology services deal volumes account for nearly 21% of overall private equity activity, with TPG, Carlyle, and KKR slightly above this level, indicating weakened market confidence in software-related investments.
- Rising Loan Risks: Software borrowers are shouldering an average debt-to-EBITDA ratio of 7.4 times, significantly higher than the 5.9 times average across a $1 trillion loan pool studied by KBRA, highlighting the private credit market's heavy reliance on the software sector and its associated risks.
- Portfolio Review: Companies like Ares and KKR are reviewing their portfolios to assess the impact of AI on their software investments, demonstrating a cautious approach among asset managers in the face of market volatility.

- Private Credit Sector: The emergence of private credit "cockroaches" indicates a shift in the market, particularly affecting the software sector.
- Investment Opportunities: This situation may present new investment opportunities in shares of business development companies that hold the debt of these affected companies.

- Private Credit Sector: The private credit sector is facing challenges, likened to "cockroaches" emerging from the software industry.
- Opportunities in Business Development Companies: This situation may present investment opportunities in business development companies that hold the debt of affected firms.
- Target Price Adjustment: Blue Owl Capital has reduced its target price for Oppenheimer from $27 to $24.
- Market Impact: This adjustment may influence investor sentiment and trading strategies related to Oppenheimer's stock.
- Strong Software Loan Performance: Co-CEO Marc Lipschultz stated that Blue Owl's software loan book remains robust without any performance declines, with loans averaging 30% of enterprise value and possessing 'huge' equity cushions, indicating the firm's resilience in the tech sector.
- Asset Management Growth: Blue Owl's assets under management (AUM) increased by 22% to $307 billion as of December 31, 2024, primarily driven by new capital commitments and the acquisition of IPI, showcasing the company's strong market appeal.
- Significant Capital Commitments: The firm raised $17 billion in new capital commitments in the recent quarter, totaling $56 billion for the year, reflecting Blue Owl's success in attracting investors and enhancing its financial position.
- Challenges in Private Credit: Despite strong growth, CFO Alan Kirshenbaum noted that the firm is behind its Investor Day goals due to headwinds in private credit, indicating the complexities of the current market environment.
- Record Fundraising: Blue Owl Capital raised a total of $56 billion in 2025, with over $17 billion raised in Q4 alone, demonstrating significant growth across diversified investment strategies and solidifying its leadership position in the global market.
- Strong Investment Returns: The company reported net lease gross returns exceeding 13% in 2025, with the ORENT product net return at approximately 11%, which not only boosts investor confidence but also lays a strong foundation for future capital inflows.
- Increased Shareholder Returns: Blue Owl declared a fixed annual dividend of $0.92 per share for 2026, translating to a quarterly dividend of $0.23, reflecting the company's commitment to creating shareholder value while maintaining profitability, which is expected to attract more investors.
- Robust Financial Performance: The company reported FRE of $0.27 per share for Q4, with a 12% growth in FRE for the full year, while AUM reached $300 billion, indicating effective strategies in risk management and liquidity that enhance market confidence.









