BNP Paribas AM set to launch Nest-like private credit offer to UK pensions
French manager BNP Paribas Asset Management is set to launch a diversified private credit fund for smaller UK pension funds over the first half of 2020, similar to the one it structured for the pension scheme Nest  

Pantheon appoints ex-Star Mountain official as head of global private debt
Pantheon has appointed a former Star Mountain Capital official as partner and global head of private debt in New York 

Alcentra plugs gaps as CIO leaves the firm
Alcentra’s chief investment officer has departed, with the firm splitting his responsibilities between its heads of European loans and US loans as co-CIOs 

BlackRock targets €2.5 billion as it completes first close on European mid-market fund
BlackRock European Middle Market Private Debt Fund II, having collected €1.5 billion at first close, is expected to hold a final close in the first half of next year at around €2.5 billion, according to market sources 

Permira hit by downgrades in direct lending portfolio but maintains leverage facility ratings
Permira Credit Solutions II's largest asset holding, which represents 17% of the fund, was downgraded from B to D, according to Arc Ratings. Another was downgraded from CCC+ to CCC

Direct lending strategies grow by 32% in Luxembourg, report finds
Direct lending strategies domiciled in Luxembourg have almost doubled to comprise 32% of the private loan market, up from 18% last year, according to a joint private debt fund survey conducted by KPMG and Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry

UK pension partnership launches maiden private credit offering at £581 million
Border to Coast Pensions Partnership (BCPP) is set to commit £581 million in private credit, as part of its maiden offering in this asset class  

West coast pension looks to step up direct lending allocations
The City of Fresno Retirement System will commit $140-160 million to private credit for the next two years, according to board documentation seen by Creditflux. This comes amid a pause in direct lending commitments for the pension fund, which has not committed any capital to this market in 2019

Italian journalists set for greater exposure to infrastructure debt
The pension fund for Italian journalists has launched a request for proposals in which it seeks exposure to infrastructure debt, along with infrastructure equity

45% of insurers look to increase private debt allocations, finds Natixis IM survey
Private debt allocations are expected to grow for 45% of insurers over the next three years, according to a recent survey by Natixis Investment Management. But regulation and internal restrictions are the biggest challenges to greater adoption of private markets allocation

Saranac adds private markets specialist in London
Saranac Partners has added a private market specialist from Citi 

CIC collects €530 million for direct lending fund
CIC Private Debt has collected €530 million on its third senior debt fund, surpassing its original €450 million target size

Minnesota pension to invest $300 million in distressed and private credit funds
Minnesota State Board of Investments is set to invest $100 million in a mezzanine debt fund and $200 million in a distressed debt fund

Italian pension eyes private market investments with debt and equity mandate
Fondoposte has launched a request for proposals in which it outlines plans to invest in private debt and private equity  

Arizona pension to deploy up to $700 million a year in private credit
Arizona Public Safety Employee System is looking to deploy $600-700 million in private credit strategies per year in order to meet its target allocation, according to board documents seen by Creditflux.

Decalia adds ex-Morgan Stanley official to senior private credit role
Geneva-based Decalia Asset Management has appointed a lead portfolio manager for its private market funds

Beechbrook appoints chariman for Irish SME fund
The appointment is in conjunction with Beechbrook's first investment in the Irish SME fund, which held a first close in July 

Azimut hires ex-Dyal official as it aims to buy minority equity in asset managers
Azimut will initially focus on acquiring minority stakes in alternative asset managers with under $3 billion AUM – including private credit, private equity, infrastructure and real estate firms

Canadian pension awards €300 million to middle market real estate debt
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) has awarded €300 million to a separately managed account focused on real estate across Spain and Portugal. The pension fund did not name who this partnership was with 

Online lender launches German credit fund with EIF backing
A senior debt fund managed by Creditshelf has recieved a cornerstone investment from the European Investment Fund - where all loans will be originated via its online lending platform

Direct lenders' unitranche greed poses challenge to CLO sourcing
European direct lenders are increasingly expressing their preference to be the sole lender in large unitranche deals, whereas the opposite is true in the US, where direct lenders are more focused on syndicating their deals    

Eiffel seeks ESG loans as French lenders adopt LuxFlag label
Private debt managers are applying for the Luxembourg Finance Labelling Agency’s (LuxFlag) approval in ESG-centric strategies.

Managers dispel myth that lenders can’t influence ESG
There’s a growing belief among credit fund managers that they can influence borrowers to take on ESG-friendly practices, contrary to the widely-accepted notion that the business practices of companies are dictated by their private equity owners.

Direct lenders start to overcome bank dominance in Spain
Spain is becoming a popular destination for direct lenders — despite the competitive terms offered by local banks. Sources say that borrowers are starting to look beyond pricing to ease of execution and flexible documentation.

Fresh wave of investors to boost direct lenders
European direct lenders raised €18.3 billion across 13 funds in the first half of this year, according to the Creditflux direct lending database, but that could be just the tip of the iceberg.