0759 GMT - The Asia-Pacific private-debt market is expected to deepen and become more institutionalized as investment opportunities expand beyond traditional direct lending, says EY in a report. Asia-Pacific-focused private debt funds raised $5.7 billion in 1H, nearly three times the $2.1 billion raised in the same period a year earlier, the report says. Investors are increasingly allocating to asset-backed finance, capital solutions and private debt secondaries as borrower financing needs become more diverse, EY says. In particular, Asia-Pacific-focused private debt secondaries fundraising has grown rapidly over 2020-2025, EY adds. Factors such as growing bank-private credit collaboration and diversification beyond mature markets will continue to support Asia-Pacific private debt's growth trajectory, EY adds.