Polar Asset Management Partners has completed the first close of its second dedicated Significant Risk Transfer investment fund with more than $215 million in commitments.
Polar CRS Fund II follows the deployment of the firm’s first CRS fund and expands Polar’s structured credit strategy as Canadian banks face increasing regulatory capital and balance sheet constraints.
The fund is designed to provide institutional investors with exposure to a diversified portfolio of Significant Risk Transfer, or SRT, transactions with major Canadian banks. These transactions can allow financial institutions to improve regulatory capital efficiency and balance sheet flexibility while transferring portions of credit risk to investors.
Polar has participated in structured credit and risk-sharing investments since 2011 and has invested approximately $1.3 billion across 20 SRT transactions. This includes more than $730 million invested through co-investment vehicles.
Fund II can now begin deploying capital, and Polar said several transactions are targeted for execution during the second half of 2026.
Toronto-based Polar managed approximately $5.7 billion as of June 30, 2026 across its Multi-Strategy Fund, Long/Short Fund, Micro-Cap Fund, and first CRS fund.
KEY QUOTES:
“A strong first close of CRS Fund-II builds on more than a decade of experience in structured and opportunistic Canadian credit and the rapid deployment of our first SRT fund. As banks face increasing regulatory and balance sheet constraints, SRTs have become an important tool, and we believe our long-standing relationships in Canada and structuring capabilities position us well as a trusted and repeat partner.”
Greg Lemaich, President and CEO of Polar Asset Management Partners
