Bank of Ireland and Kennedy Lewis Launch Strategic Partnership to Support European Mid‑Market Buy-outs

12 March, 2026 – Bank of Ireland has today announced a new strategic partnership with Kennedy Lewis, a US‑based multi‑strategy private credit manager with more than $32 billion in assets under management. The partnership will focus on originating and jointly deploying bank-led financing solutions for European mid‑market buyouts. Kennedy Lewis has committed €2 billion to support the partnership’s activity over the next three years, complementing Bank of Ireland’s existing acquisition finance business.

The partnership brings together Bank of Ireland’s long-established European leveraged finance platform – operating from Dublin, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, and Paris – with Kennedy Lewis’s flexible capital base and extensive US lending expertise. The joint initiative will deliver tailored financing solutions to mid‑market private equity sponsors across bilateral, club, and syndicated loan structures.

Commenting on the announcement, Michael Lauhoff, Head of Specialist Banking at Bank of Ireland, said:

“We are delighted to partner with Kennedy Lewis to deliver a differentiated offering to our pan‑European mid‑market private equity clients- a core focus of our business for more than 25 years. This partnership enhances our ability to provide attractive alternative financing solutions to sponsors and enables both institutions to support a significantly enhanced product proposition. Kennedy Lewis is an ideal partner, sharing our values and bringing deep expertise in mid‑market transactions from the US. We see this as being the beginning of a long and successful relationship.”

Doug Logigan, President and Co-Managing Partner, Kennedy Lewis, said:

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Bank of Ireland, one of Europe’s pre-eminent leveraged finance platforms. This partnership will provide Bank of Ireland clients with an expanded one-stop shop for debt solutions that will offer flexibility, certainty, and expediency. Kennedy Lewis investors will gain exclusive access to differentiated deal flow from a partner who is deeply aligned with our investment philosophy and culture of risk management.”

David Chene, Co-Founder and Co-Managing Partner, Kennedy Lewis, said:

“This Strategic Partnership perfectly aligns with our relationship-driven approach to middle market lending, and we are excited to continue to expand our current European capabilities. Bank of Ireland’s scale, incumbency, and values make them an ideal long-term partner, and we look forward to a very productive relationship.”

Bank of Ireland was advised by PWC Corporate Finance and Linklaters. Kennedy Lewis was advised by Akin Gump and Walkers Ireland.