HSBC AM completes USD 2bn final close for second UK direct lending vintage
The strategy invests in senior secured loans to private equity-backed companies in under-served low-to-core middle market segments

Crescent raises USD 10.8bn for direct lending, targeting lower mid-market
The firm’s fourth US direct lending fund was oversubscribed and exceeded its target by more than USD 2.5bn

Eurazeo closes its largest ever direct lending fund with EUR 3.9bn raised
Eurazeo Private Debt VII raised EUR 3.9bn at closing, exceeding its EUR 3bn target

First Eagle taps AlbaCore alum for alternative credit product sales
Edward Berry joins as a managing director in London and will help distribute the firm’s alternative credit products, including those under the Napier Park brand

Older, US direct lending funds hold more equity positions, adding risk – MSCI
EXCLUSIVE: Around 15% of the total assets across US senior direct lending funds tracked by MSCI are equity positions of some kind, MSCI head of private credit research Patrick Warren told Creditflux

Oaktree partners with Pantheon to launch standalone European direct lending strategy
The partnership will have the capacity to grow to EUR 1bn of investable capital and is being seeded by an existing portfolio of European direct lending assets

Barings raises more than USD 19bn for global direct lending strategy
The firm raised capital from institutional, insurance and private wealth investors globally

Citi, HPS strike EUR 15bn private debt program
BlackRock-owned HPS and Citi are working together to offer private capital solutions to sponsor-backed and corporate-owned borrowers

Goldman Sachs is selling USD1bn of private credit loans bought from Apollo
EXCLUSIVE: The banking division has been in the process of selling a portfolio of loans acquired from Apollo

Temasek taps Pinegrove for venture debt partnership
The Singaporean state investment firm intends to lend directly to growth stage technology and life sciences companies

Antares raises USD 8.5bn for senior direct lending
The alternative credit manager held a final close for its third Senior Loan Fund after raising capital from new and existing investors

Abry Private Debt acquires USD 330m private credit portfolio
Abry partnered with Coller Capital on the credit secondaries transaction

Hayfin names Goldman Sachs veteran as head of investments
Goldman Sachs veteran Michael Marsh has been hired to the newly created role

Investors should stay the course on private credit even amid valuation uncertainties—Mariner
EXCLUSIVE: Institutional investors can generally ride out any market bumpiness, and these internal marks do not necessarily reflect final returns, head of Mariner Institutional Mike Welker said 

Neuberger, SMBC ink deal to back Japan-focused private debt funds
A joint venture between Neuberger Berman and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. will manage private debt funds that invest primarily in LBO loans 

Blackstone President Jon Gray says firm has navigated outflows comparable to BCRED before
Blackstone saw elevated outflows a few years ago with its semi-liquid real estate product, BREIT, and believes BCRED will prove similarly resilient, President Jon Gray said on the firm’s first-quarter earnings call

LBOs, new loan supply expectations reset amid Iran war, AI-related disruptions
Loans in previously overlooked sectors are gaining more attention amid the upheaval, according to panellists at this week’s Creditflux CLO Symposium

European CLO equity returns under pressure—BofA report
A challenging situation in the loan market means CLO managers may have to reinvest recoveries at unfavourable cash prices

Lending to nonbank entities like BDCs will be a growth area—State Street
Additionally, the firm said its investment grade private credit ETF, developed with Apollo, hit USD 800m in assets under management during the quarter

Ares to launch new private credit fund with USD 10bn-15bn equity target
The fund has the same equity target as its record-breaking predecessor, Ares Senior Direct Lending Fund III

Northleaf private ABF managing director exits
CJ Wei, who focused on asset-based finance at the Canadian private markets firm, departs for a new role

Perpetual nontraded BDC fears are exaggerated—KBRA
Credit quality and liquidity at these semi-liquid private credit funds remain comfortable despite the negative shift in investor sentiment, the ratings agency said  

Blackstone raises USD 10bn for oversubscribed opportunistic credit fund
The alternative asset management giant will use the fund’s flexible mandate to invest across industries, capital structures, and geographies

All systems go as Fortress embarks on European dream
Fortress has long been planning its European expansion. Now it’s hiring and upsizing in London

Tikehau looks to develop Asia direct lending product via JV
The French alternative asset manager has struck a joint venture with Amova Asset Management, formerly known as Nikko Asset Management, to solidify its presence in Asia