Oxane Partners, a technology-driven solutions provider to the private credit markets, recently hosted Engage 2026, its annual client forums in London and New York, bringing together 170+ senior credit professionals from global banks, private credit firms, and asset managers. Building on the candid exchanges that have defined Engage over the years, this year’s forums introduced a live Mood of the Market poll, offering a perspective on industry sentiment, emerging opportunities, and the evolving priorities shaping Private Credit+.
Oxane Engage participants struck a measured tone on overall credit markets. Looking ahead to 2027, more than half expressed optimism, while nearly a third anticipated steady conditions. The findings offer a timely snapshot of market sentiment as the industry weighs emerging growth opportunities against renewed scrutiny of credit quality, underwriting standards, and transparency.
“Private credit is a much broader market today, and that came through in our conversations at Engage,” Sumit Gupta, founder and CEO of Oxane, said. “There is considerable interest in new opportunities, but also a more thoughtful discussion around the risks and practical demands of managing different credit strategies. As the market grows, I think we’ll see greater attention on how firms prepare themselves for that complexity, not just where they deploy capital.”
The discussions at Engage also brought into focus two important dimensions of private credit’s future: where new opportunities are emerging and how firms are adapting to manage them. Asset-based finance (ABF) growth and AI-led automation featured almost equally among the developments expected to shape credit markets through 2030, at 31% and 29%, respectively. Expectations around AI also extend beyond efficiency gains, with nearly a third anticipating more fundamental changes to operating models.
“One of the interesting themes in our conversations at Engage was how much common ground we’re seeing across our clients. Both banks and private credit managers increasingly expect technology to connect information across investment, financing, and risk, rather than address each need in isolation,” Kanav Kalia, managing director and chief sales and marketing officer at Oxane, said. “AI has an important role in that shift, but its value will come from how effectively it works within the processes firms already rely on. That thinking is shaping where we invest and how we continue to develop our solutions alongside clients.”
