European private credit offers US investors a compelling return premium, most pronounced in the lower mid-market – the largest yet most fragmented segment of the European lending landscape where smaller, sole-lender deals dominate. But capturing that premium is not straightforward. Europe is a mosaic of distinct legal systems, regulatory frameworks, and business cultures; and the lower mid-market borrowers who drive the best risk-adjusted returns are reached through local relationships, not global platforms. This workshop explores why a pan-European model with embedded local teams – people who speak the language, understand the insolvency regime, and have cultivated networks in their markets over years – is essential to sourcing proprietary deals, underwriting them effectively, and ultimately delivering superior outcomes for investors.