One of the best ways to judge the vitality of an asset class is to look at how fund managers and investors are adapting to the changing demands of the market. Private debt has emerged over the past decade as one of the most dynamic private markets, largely because of its ability to come up with fresh solutions to emerging issues and investor demands.

In this special report, Private Debt Investor’s writers and editors pick out 20 of the biggest themes emerging in private credit. They encompass areas as diverse as ESG and investor demands for a more sustainable approach through to the dizzying pace of technological change that is seeing the emergence of exciting new data-driven strategies. Covid-19, of course, played its part in encouraging the growth of virtual due diligence – practically unheard of prior to the pandemic – but the thing that really becomes apparent is just in how many ways private debt is expanding. The future really does start here.