Fortress Deploys Its Bad Loan Playbook in Europe’s Engine Room

Fortress Investment Group is looking to expand its European non-performing loan business in some of the region’s core economies, including Germany and France, where it sees some real estate borrowers coming under increasing strain.

The US investment firm is considering opening an office in Frankfurt as part of its growth plans, and may explore the acquisition of a loan servicer in Germany, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified because the matter is private.

Fortress has been buying non-performing loans in Europe since the early 2000s, with a focus on lending secured by ...