Apollo Global Management is turning its sights toward thriving sectors such as defense, artificial intelligence, and infrastructure across Europe. With Tristram Leach, co-head of European credit at Apollo, at the helm of this initiative, the firm is positioning itself to capitalize on areas where funding demand is both urgent and immense.
Apollo is showcasing unparalleled investment flexibility. Backed by an estimated $72 billion in available capital for European deployment, the firm is gearing up to provide critical funding for projects that traditional lenders or public markets may shy away from. Leach emphasizes that defense and AI initiatives require deep, patient capital—exactly the type that Apollo can offer—highlighting a strategic shift in private finance attracting global attention.
Europe’s shifting capital flows also play into Apollo’s strategy. Leach notes that non-European investors are increasingly looking to diversify away from U.S. exposures. Apollo’s agile footprint in Europe thus places it well to meet demand and deliver value across crucial areas like advanced defense systems, AI infrastructure, and reindustrialization efforts.
The defense sector presents compelling investment opportunities as countries ramp up capabilities to respond to geopolitical tensions. Apollo’s flexible capital structure allows it to structure creative financing—whether through direct lending, asset-backed models, or bespoke credit instruments—to support modernization in defense technologies and innovation ecosystems.
Meanwhile, Europe’s AI landscape is expanding rapidly. Governments and corporations are pursuing AI-driven transformation in cybersecurity, autonomous systems, health tech, and manufacturing. Apollo’s interest in AI aligns with its broader commitment to backing financially complex, long-horizon projects that fall outside conventional funding models.
Apollo’s interest dovetails with its broader industrial strategy. The firm has already committed up to £4.5 billion to the Hinkley Point C nuclear power project in the U.K., marking one of the largest-ever private credit deals in pound sterling. The firm also plans to invest over $100 billion in Germany over the next decade—targeting energy, infrastructure, and private enterprises needing asset-based and direct lending support.
This focus on real-economy opportunities amid Europe’s transformation underscores Apollo’s ambition to fuel renewal—as part of what it describes as a new “industrial renaissance.” The firm’s capacity to act swiftly and deeply—away from short-term capital constraints—positions it as a powerful facilitator for large-scale, forward-leaning projects.
Tristram Leach’s remarks show that Apollo sees national security and technological advancement as interdependent goals. By deploying private capital into defense procurement, AI research, and infrastructure, Apollo aims to both deliver attractive returns and contribute to Europe’s strategic resilience.
The firm’s ability to structure bespoke deals—ranging from revenue-backed instruments to joint ventures—gives it an edge in sectors where state-backed or institutional funding may be slow-moving or risk-averse. Whether it’s modernizing military capabilities, building next-generation AI systems, or developing high-impact infrastructure, Apollo’s involvement is being framed as both a financial opportunity and a form of partnership with industrial and governmental stakeholders.
In short, Apollo is signing up for a long game: investing where needs are urgent, capital is scarce, and rewards—both commercial and strategic—are significant. By marrying deep-pocketed private finance with Europe’s future-facing sectors, the firm is staking a claim in areas critical to the continent’s economic and security ambitions.
