Quantamental Hybrid Investment Desk
Trend Analysis

Private Credit Liquidity Crisis
Blue Owl · Blackstone · BlackRock
Structural Analysis of Redemption Restrictions

We analyze the causes, transmission paths, and investment implications by scenario of the redemption restriction (Gate) events that occurred sequentially in the private credit funds of the world's top 3 alternative investment managers in February-March 2026, from a quantitative and qualitative convergence perspective.

Published Date 2026-03-08 Style Institutional Target OWL · BX · BLK Classification Trend / Private Credit
Signal Score: -80 / 100  (Extremely Bearish)
UW — UNDERWEIGHT

Executive Summary

  • In February-March 2026, a series of redemption restrictions occurred in the private credit funds of the world's top 3 alternative investment managers (Blue Owl, Blackstone, BlackRock), raising concerns about a liquidity crisis across the alternative investment sector. FACT
  • Blue Owl: OBDC II($1.6B) permanently suspended redemptions (2/18), selling $1.4B in loan assets at 99.7 cents, emerging as the epicenter of the crisis. Stock price YTD -32.5%. FACT
  • Blackstone: BCRED($82B) experienced a record 7.9% redemption request ($3.8B). Defensive response by fully executing + investing $400M by employees. FACT
  • BlackRock: HLEND($26B) received a 9.3% redemption request, applying a 5% cap. Faced with stress tests immediately after the acquisition of HPS. FACT
  • Signal Score -80/100 (Extremely Bearish), Rating UW(Underweight). Upward adjustment of Bear case probability from the usual 15% to 35%. INFERENCE
  • Structural causes: Liquidity mismatch (3-7 year loans vs. quarterly redemptions), retailization (71% increase in unlisted BDCs), concentration in AI/SaaS sectors (~40%), maturity wall in 2026-27 ($330B). NARRATIVE
OWL YTD
-32.5%
$9.90
BX YTD
-27.5%
~$110
BLK YTD
-10.2%
~$1,049
VIX
29.48
+67% MoM
BCRED Redemption
$3.8B
7.9% of NAV
HLEND Redemption Request
9.3%
5% Cap Applied
Default Rate (Current)
4.55%
UBS Worst 15%
Bear Probability
35%
Up from Usual 15%

Section IEvent Overview and Timeline

Starting with the failure of the OBDC II merger in the fourth quarter of 2025, large-scale redemption requests and redemption restriction (Gate) events occurred in the private credit funds of alternative investment managers between January and March 2026. The timeline below summarizes the major events in chronological order. FACT

Exhibit 1