KKR adds CLO mezz and private credit to mix with opportunistic credit fund
The new interval fund will invest in opportunistic credit, including CLO mezzanine debt, as well as private debt 

MacKay Shields integrates CVP's loan team while spinning out distressed debt
MacKay Shields has spun out the distressed debt business of Credit Value Partners and focus resources on CVP’s leveraged loan platform

US credit managers make ESG breakthrough after taking a first step via UNPRI
Incorporating a framework for investing in companies based on environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors is a challenge that US credit managers are accepting in growing numbers

Axa IM promotes global head of loans and private debt following Levilain departure
Axa Investment Managers has promoted a new global head of leveraged loans and private debt to fill the vacancy left by Jean-Philippe Levilain, who has left to join CBAM

THL updates credit investment framework to include ESG
THL Credit Advisors has announced that it has developed an investment framework for assessing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in analysing credit quality and risk factors

For enhanced CLOs to outperform, investors need the credit cycle to turn — and quickly
If the current credit cycle doesn’t end within two years, triple C-heavy CLOs will not see a return on their high financing costs

Ucits at a glance
A round-up of ucits fund performance

US hedge funds use leverage to buy European CLOs
Boca Raton-based hedge fund manager III Capital Management is leading the charge as US hedge funds employ leverage to buy European triple A-rated CLOs.

CLO managers look to move away from ‘spiky’ triple Cs
CLO managers are in the process of de-risking their portfolios by rotating out of triple Cs into less risky credits following a volatile month in markets, according to multiple sources. Creditflux analysis shows that, for the past couple of years, managers have become emboldened with triple C and B3/B- loans making up 25% of the portfolios of 50 US CLO managers.

Credit funds at a glance
A round-up of fundraising and people moves in credit

Fund performance
A round-up of fund performance

CLO managers went to CCC, to see what they could CCC…
CLO portfolios are drifting towards low single B and triple C names. But triple C buckets are not in danger of overflowing, so managers can be even more aggressive 

EQT looks to raise €500 million via IPO
The initial public offering is anticipated to increase EQT's flexbility to “pursue growth opportunities” and expand its private market investing business

CLO managers cash in their chips as Caesars trade pays off
Caesars Entertainment was the most sold issuer in June with $158.8 million of its term loan sold out of CLOs.

Euro trading: Vue proves to be leading light for CLOs, but liquid bonds play crucial support role
Vue International's newly issued loan starred in 25 CLO managers' portfolios, which bought €239.4 million of the loan in June and made it a box office hit among CLO managers, according to CLO-i.

US loan trading: Caesars marches out of CLOs as Blackstone rolls in
With $158 million of its term loan leaving the hands of CLO managers, Caesers Entertainment was the most sold issuer in June

BlueMountain buyout to bring CLO equity shift, funding pledge and Feldstein payout
BlueMountain Capital Management’s co-founder Andrew Feldstein looks set to receive a substantial pay-out in common shares of Assured Guaranty, which has agreed to buy the manager for around $160 million and has outlined a three-year plan for its CLOs

CLO managers suffer puncture with $85 million of Jack Cooper debt
CLO managers hold $85.8 million of exposure to auto hauler Jack Cooper Ventures, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, according to the latest trustee reports from CLO-i 

Apollo fee earnings rise 9% in Q2 as structured credit boosts portfolio
Apollo Global Management’s credit portfolio increased 4% quarter-over-quarter to $201 billion, driven by growth in affiliated life insurance firm Athene, as well as corporate credit and structured credit

Enhanced CLOs are no more enhancing than run-of-the-mill distressed funds
Triple C-heavy CLOs that try to time the market may be paying for options they never use

US CLOs thrive as managers embrace secondary loan market
Leveraged loan issuance is supposed to feed and keep CLOs healthy, but a 62% slowdown in US loan volumes this year was accompanied by average CLO equity distributions ticking 19% higher.

Euro CLO managers ditch Moody’s as negative views rise
European CLO managers have begun turning against Moody's as it has rapidly increased the number of loan issuers it has placed on negative outlook.

Rival manager’s warehouse contributes to new CIFC US CLO
CIFC Asset Management has had a productive year after pricing four new issue US CLOs but sources say that the manager’s latest deal, CIFC Funding 2019-IV, owes a lot to another CLO manager.

Fund performance: Mercury rises as does credit fund performance

Philadelphia Energy bankruptcy tars nine CLO managers with $241 million exposure
The Philadelphia-headquartered company has entered into bankruptcy protection for a second time, having only emerged from its first filing in August