DWS establishes Capital Solutions business unit with appointment of Head of Capital Solutions

DWS today announced the latest development in its strategic growth push in Alternative Credit with the creation of a new Capital Solutions business unit and the appointment of Vlado Spasov as Head of Capital Solutions, effective immediately.

This latest development sees DWS onboard an active deal pipeline, as a cornerstone of DWS’s strategic initiative to fast-track the growth of its EUR 111 billion Alternatives franchise. DWS has a 50-year plus track record in Alternatives including established strength in real estate, infrastructure, liquid real assets and direct lending.

The new Capital Solutions business unit will be part of DWS’s Alternative Credit business and offer sophisticated and flexible solutions in the special situations lending space. The unit adds to DWS’s other strategic initiatives in Alternative Credit which include Direct Lending, Leveraged Loans and Structured Credit.

Based in London, Vlado is a senior industry figure with over 20 years of capital solutions experience. He was most recently Founder & Chief Investment Officer at Trimontium Capital, and was previously a Managing Director in the Hedge Fund Solutions Group at Blackstone and a member of its Special Situations Investing Group. Prior to that Vlado was a Principal at Ares Management and Vice President at Fortress Investment Group.

Vlado holds a BA in Business Administration from the American University in Bulgaria, and an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He reports to Dan Robinson, Head of Alternative Credit (EMEA).

Dan Robinson, Head of Alternative Credit (EMEA) at DWS, said: “With the appointment of Vlado we are moving forward at pace with our commitment to grow in Alternative Credit. The Capital Solutions strategy addresses an under-served part of the private credit markets between senior debt and equity. Vlado is highly experienced in providing innovative, flexible solutions in this space with a strong and proven track record and we are very pleased to have attracted him to DWS. As well as leading our Capital Solutions business we expect Vlado to play a leading role in the growth of our Direct Lending business.”

Vlado Spasov, Head of Capital Solutions at DWS added: “There are significant opportunities for growth within the most sophisticated areas of the private credit markets, especially in the delivery of complexity premia to our investors. I look forward to working with the team at DWS and building a leading capital solutions franchise.”

About DWS Group

DWS Group (DWS) with EUR 896bn of assets under management (as of 31 December 2023) aspires to be one of the world's leading asset managers. Building on more than 60 years of experience, it has a reputation for excellence in Germany, Europe, the Americas and Asia. DWS is recognized by clients globally as a trusted source for integrated investment solutions, stability and innovation across a full spectrum of investment disciplines.

We offer individuals and institutions access to our strong investment capabilities across all major liquid and illiquid asset classes as well as solutions aligned to growth trends. Our diverse expertise in Active, Passive and Alternatives asset management – as well as our deep environmental, social and governance focus – complement each other when creating targeted solutions for our clients. Our expertise and on-the-ground knowledge of our economists, research analysts and investment professionals are brought together in one consistent global CIO View, giving strategic guidance to our investment approach.

DWS wants to innovate and shape the future of investing. We understand that, both as a corporate as well as a trusted advisor to our clients, we have a crucial role in helping to navigate the transition to a more sustainable future. With approximately 4,500 employees in offices all over the world, we are local while being one global team. We are committed to acting on behalf of our clients and investing with their best interests at heart so that they can reach their financial goals, no matter what the future holds. With our entrepreneurial, collaborative spirit, we work every day to deliver outstanding investment results, in both good and challenging times to build the best foundation for our clients’ financial future.

DWS – Alternatives

DWS’ alternatives business has been investing in the asset class for more than 50 years. As one of the world’s leading fiduciary Alternatives managers with EUR 111 billion in assets under management (31 December 2023), we offer a diverse range of strategies across the alternatives spectrum including direct real estate and infrastructure, real estate and infrastructure securities and commodities. Leveraging our integrated platform comprising more than 450 employees across 16 countries and a network of investment specialists worldwide, the business is committed to its fiduciary obligation to deliver solutions that meet the individual investment needs of governments, corporations, insurance companies, endowments, retirement plans, and private clients worldwide.