La Trobe Financial continues to up the ante.
The Melbourne-based alternative asset and non-bank lender has reached $25 billion in assets under management, up from $20 billion in mid-2024.
Cory Bannister, chief lending officer of the firm, credited the firm's relationships for much of that growth.
"Our broker partners consistently tell us that our greatest strengths are our flexibility, reliability and consistency, and those qualities have helped us become a lender they can depend on throughout all market cycles," Bannister told Australian Broker. "Combined with our unwavering commitment to attracting great people and empowering them to make a difference in the lives of the customers they serve, those trusted relationships have been the foundation of our growth."
La Trobe's investor base has grown to more than 130,000, including both individuals and institutional investors, backed by more than 5,000 financial advisors. The firm's capital is deployed across both residential and commercial loans.
The latest milestone comes against a backdrop of higher interest rates, budget changes and continued global uncertainty. But Bannister said those headwinds have not changed the firm's willingness to lend.
"Of course, we closely monitor economic conditions, interest rate movements and regulatory changes. But generally, our credit appetite remains remarkably consistent," he explained. "That consistency is underpinned by more than 70 years of experience across multiple economic and property cycles, which has enabled us to develop a disciplined and resilient credit framework.
"We know that brokers and borrowers value certainty," he continued. "Rather than making reactive changes as market conditions evolve, we focus on maintaining a stable approach to credit while applying prudent risk management and sound judgment to every application."
Residential lending accounted for the largest share of La Trobe's origination volumes in the first half of the year. More recently, however, Bannister said the firm has seen a "noticeable uplift" in both construction and commercial lending activity.
"Our portfolio is deliberately diversified across residential mortgages, commercial real estate and construction lending, with further diversification by geography, borrower type, security type and loan size," Bannister said. "As an asset manager, maintaining a balanced and resilient portfolio is a core principle, ensuring we are not reliant on any single product, sector or market segment for growth.
"This breadth of demand across multiple sectors reinforces the value of our diversified lending platform and our ability to support clients and broker partners through different stages of the property cycle," he added.
Bannister added that in the last year, La Trobe's broker network grew approximately 25%.
"Looking ahead, our focus remains on strengthening our existing partnerships and building new relationships through education to help brokers unlock more opportunities for their clients, and to grow their businesses with confidence," he said.
La Trobe, which was established in 1952, was acquired by Canadian-based global alternative asset manager Brookfield Asset Management in 2022. In April, Axight acquired a minority stake in La Trobe, underscoring growing international investor interest in Australia’s private credit market. Brookfield will continue to be the majority stakeholder.
Bannister said Axight's investment hasn't changed La Trobe's strategic priorities.
"Our focus remains unchanged, delivering strong outcomes for investors, supporting our broker partners and borrowers, maintaining a disciplined approach to risk, and continuing to grow a diversified and resilient business," he explained.
Moving forward, Bannister added that La Trobe remains "very optimistic about the opportunities ahead for brokers operating in the alternative lending market. While market conditions continue to evolve, experienced brokers understand that opportunity exists in every phase of the cycle, even if it presents differently than during periods of rapid growth.
"Over the next 12 months, we expect to see strong demand from borrowers seeking greater flexibility and more tailored funding solutions than those typically available through traditional lenders. This includes opportunities around refinancing, debt consolidation, capital restructuring, construction funding and supporting borrowers with complex or non-standard circumstances," he added. "For brokers, the opportunity is not just in originating new transactions, but in deepening relationships with existing clients by helping them navigate a changing environment."
La Trobe's Chief Executive Officer Chris Andrews added: "the next chapter will be guided by the same principles that brought us here: disciplined investment decisions, prudent liquidity settings, clear communication and attentive service."
