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Hedge Fund Kyma Capital Returns 48% on Distressed Debt Bets

Reported by Bloomberg
Jan 23, 2026· 2 min read
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Key Takeaways
  • • Kyma Capital delivered 48% net returns to investors in 2025, marking the London-based hedge fund's strongest annual performance since inception in early 2019, according to Bloomberg sources with knowledge of the matter.
  • • The fund's outsized returns were driven primarily by a distressed debt position in Swiss pharmaceutical company Idorsia, where Kyma Capital ranked among the largest creditors, demonstrating concentrated exposure to a single restructuring opportunity.
  • • Kyma Capital, led by founder Akshay Shah (former Blackstone distressed-debt investor), continues to execute a focused strategy targeting smaller distressed debt opportunities in European markets where it identifies deep, durable value.
  • • The fund's 48% return reflects successful execution across a portfolio of distressed company bets, positioning Kyma Capital as a notable performer in the European distressed debt space during a period of elevated corporate stress.
Summary
Kyma Capital, the London-based hedge fund founded by Akshay Shah, delivered 48% net returns to investors in 2025, achieving its best annual performance since commencing operations in early 2019. According to Bloomberg sources with knowledge of the matter, the exceptional returns were driven by strategic positioning in distressed debt securities, particularly investments in companies facing significant debt refinancing challenges.

The single largest contributor to Kyma Capital's 2025 gains was a concentrated bet on Swiss pharmaceutical company Idorsia. The fund held one of the largest creditor positions in the company, positioning it to benefit from both the debt restructuring process and potential recovery scenarios. This position exemplifies the fund's core strategy of acquiring discounted debt instruments and leveraging creditor status to influence outcomes during corporate reorganizations or restructurings.

Shah, a former distressed-debt specialist at Blackstone's GSO Capital Partners, established Kyma Capital to focus explicitly on smaller distressed debt opportunities within European markets. The fund's track record over the past seven years—culminating in 2025's 48% net return—reflects consistent execution of this thesis. The strategy targets debt trading at significant discounts to face value, generating returns through pricing appreciation and active engagement in debt restructuring processes.

The 2025 performance underscores renewed investor appetite for distressed debt strategies in Europe, where elevated corporate leverage and refinancing pressures have created opportunities across multiple sectors. Kyma Capital's results position the fund within the higher-performing segment of hedge fund performance for 2025, particularly among specialized credit-focused strategies.

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Sources

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Bloomberg Hedge Fund Kyma Capital Returns 48% on Distressed Debt Bets