Newly launched boutique debuts private debt fund

Nero Private, the recently established offshoot of independent brokerage firm Nero Financial, has unveiled its first private debt fund.

The boutique private credit specialist, which promises to “bridge the gap” between traditional banking and the borrowers and investors, said the new fund invests in credit-vetted, property-secured loans to small and medium businesses (SMEs) specifically tailored for commercial finance purposes.

Nero Private funds set a minimum lending threshold of $50,000, with anticipated annual returns starting from 10% per annum.

The funds are secured by either a first mortgage or second registered mortgage based across Australia against real estate assets including residential investment, commercial and industrial properties and vacant land.

Nero Private is the newly launched offshoot of Nero Financial, the Melbourne-headquartered commercial brokerage firm founded in early 2021.

David Crook, managing director of Nero Financial said its newly launched offshoot offers an opportunity to capitalise on a growing lending market, “not only [in providing] capitalised deals at a lower LVR but also [allowing] our partners to pick and choose the deals they like, in real-time”.

Crook welcomed Nero Private managing director Sanja Crnogorac as a “perfect fit” for the new firm, with “extensive credit and risk experience, coupled with a passion for small business”.

“As borrowers and investors increasingly seek alternatives to conventional banking, private credit is becoming an essential component of the financial landscape,” Ms Crnogorac said.

“Nero Private is poised to meet this demand by offering bespoke credit solutions that deliver value to both investors and Australian businesses.”

Crnogorac joins Nero from Tyalla Capital, serving a six-month stint as partnerships manager. Boasting a two-decade career in the private credit and commercial lending space, she also served as head of credit at Guardian Wealth Mortgage Managers and a senior credit analyst at Oak Capital Mortgage.