Polar Asset Management Partners Inc., a Toronto-based global alternative asset manager, announced the first close of Polar CRS Fund-II, attracting over US$215 million in commitments for its second dedicated Significant Risk Transfer (SRT) investment vehicle. 

The launch of Fund-II builds on the successful deployment of Polar’s inaugural CRS fund and highlights the continued growth of its credit platform amid rising capital constraints in Canada’s private credit and banking sectors.

Since 2011, Polar has established itself as a leading investor in structured credit and risk-sharing strategies, deploying approximately US$1.3 billion across 20 SRT transactions, including more than US$730 million through co-investment vehicles. Fund-II provides institutional investors with exposure to a diversified portfolio of SRT transactions involving leading Canadian banks. The strategy enables financial institutions to improve regulatory capital efficiency and enhance balance-sheet flexibility, while giving investors access to a differentiated source of risk-adjusted returns.

Following the first close, Polar is positioned to deploy capital into an attractive pipeline of SRT opportunities. The firm’s sourcing capabilities are supported by long-standing relationships with Canadian financial institutions, recurring issuance activity and extensive experience structuring transactions across various credit asset classes. Several transactions are expected to be executed in the second half of 2026, with further opportunities currently under consideration.