Craig Packer (Blue Owl) – Targeting 10% Without the Volatility: The Power of Private Credit

In this episode of Inside the Rope, host David Clark sits down with Craig Packer, Co-President of Blue Owl Capital – a $140 billion powerhouse in private lending. From humble beginnings to one of the fastest-growing alternative asset managers globally, Craig shares the inside story behind Blue Owl’s explosive rise, its strategy of targeting multi-billion-dollar private equity-backed companies, and how the firm is redefining the landscape of direct lending. Craig explains how their approach delivers ~10% p.a. returns by lending to large, PE-backed US businesses—without the volatility of public markets.

Key topics covered include:

• Why US private credit markets dwarf those in Australia—and what that means for investors
• How Blue Owl generates equity-like returns (~10% p.a.) with lower volatility through senior secured loans
• Transparency, regulation, and addressing concerns of a “private debt bubble” in Australia
• How OCIC, their private wealth-focused fund, balances investor access with long-term stability
• The firm’s disciplined underwriting approach, default history, and what sets Blue Owl apart
• Craig’s philanthropic work and upcoming trip to Australia to engage with investors firsthand.

This episode offers a front-row seat to the future of private credit—told by one of the global leaders in the field.