Updated:
Cliffwater
Cliffwater manages the Cliffwater BDC Index and CDLI benchmarks for private credit, based in Marina del Rey, CA.
Cliffwater
Cliffwater operates as an asset manager and index provider headquartered in Marina del Rey, California. The firm is best known for constructing the Cliffwater BDC Index (CWBDC), launched January 1, 2015, which measures the performance of publicly traded, lending-oriented business development companies. It also maintains the Cliffwater Direct Lending Index (CDLI), a benchmark for private direct loans, back-tested to September 2004. The firm’s strategy centers on manager-of-managers selection in private credit and secondaries. Its research covers asset allocation, capital market assumptions, and private debt yield analysis. Cliffwater provides index licensing and data services to institutional investors, with a focus on the US market. Cliffwater’s team size and total assets under management are not publicly disclosed. The firm’s primary operational vehicle is the index business, complemented by research publications on private debt and BDC performance. No recent operational events from the past 24 months are verifiable from public sources. Cliffwater’s structural differentiator lies in its dual role as both an index provider and a manager-of-managers in private credit. Unlike most asset managers, it generates proprietary benchmark data that directly informs its investment process, creating a feedback loop between index construction and capital deployment decisions.
General information
Firm type
Fund of Funds Manager
Year founded
—
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Marina del Rey
Corporate office
Marina del Rey, CA, United States
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Cliffwater?
Cliffwater does not publicly name its investment leadership team. The firm's website focuses on its index products and research rather than individual professionals.
How does Cliffwater source proprietary deal flow?
Cliffwater operates as a manager of managers, sourcing investments through its relationships with BDCs and direct lending fund managers. Its index construction process provides data-driven insights into the private credit market.
Is Cliffwater structured as a single family office or does it operate more like a venture firm?
Cliffwater is an asset management firm and index provider, not a family office. It manages the Cliffwater BDC Index and Cliffwater Direct Lending Index, and provides research and capital market assumptions to institutional clients.
What investment stages does Cliffwater typically target?
Cliffwater focuses on private credit and secondaries, with exposure primarily through publicly traded BDCs and direct lending funds. Its indices capture lending-oriented strategies rather than early-stage equity.
Which sectors does Cliffwater explicitly avoid?
Cliffwater does not publicly disclose explicit sector exclusions. Its BDC index methodology requires at least 75% of assets in direct corporate loans, which implies a focus on debt rather than equity or venture-stage investments.
How is Cliffwater related to its index products?
Cliffwater is the creator and administrator of the Cliffwater BDC Index and Cliffwater Direct Lending Index. These indices reflect the firm's investment research and are used as benchmarks by institutional investors.
Does Cliffwater participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
Cliffwater acts as a manager of managers, committing capital to BDCs and direct lending funds rather than making direct investments. Its index methodology tracks the performance of these underlying funds.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
Need institutional-grade insight on registered investment advisers?
Altss delivers:
Prefer a guided tour?
We’ll walk you through: