Stafford Capital Partners (Stafford), an international private markets investment and advisory group, has launched Stafford Private Credit Income Opportunities Fund (CIO), a new open-ended direct lending and speciality finance fund.

CIO will invest in both lower middle market senior secured direct lending and speciality finance opportunities primarily in Europe and North America.

The new fund has been seeded with a $132 million NAV secondary transaction of an existing well diversified portfolio that is already 76% drawn and invested in primary funds, secondary transactions and co-investments alongside 16 well established private credit managers.

Read more: Private Equity Wire