Ucits at a glance: ucits continue to chart a steady course

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  

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  

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

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 

Mayer Brown adds leveraged finance partner in Frankfurt
Mayer Brown has appointed Bernina Butt to its banking and finance practice as partner

US pension fund earmarks $1.3 billion for credit
Teachers’ Retirement System of the State of Illinois (TRS) is set to commit $1.3 billion to credit funds, as part of its global income portfolio.  

Man hires real estate loan specialist from JP Morgan
Man Group has hired an investment director to its European private debt team

Italian private bank partners with Tikehau for private asset fund with ESG focus
Italian private bank Fideuram Investimenti has launched a private markets fund that gives investors access to private debt, among other asset classes  

UK pension hires BNP Paribas AM for starring role in core-satellite private credit fund
UK pension fund Nest has appointed BNP Paribas Asset Management to run the core of a private credit fund, sources say, in an arrangement which sees Amundi and BlackRock manage certain satellite investments  

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

HSBC Global AM hires to private markets team in London
HSBC Global Asset Management has appointed Jorge Huitron to serve as senior product specialist for private markets, within its alternatives team

Aviva expands ESG private debt capabilities
Asset manager Aviva Investors has appointed Ed Dixon to serve as head of head of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) within real assets, including private debt.  

Californian pension backs infra debt fund
Sacramento County Employees Retirement Scheme (SCERS) has awarded $40 million to a US infrastructure fund managed by IFM Investors, according to a recent report of investment activity by the pension fund.  

UK pension awards private credit mandates and eyes co-investments
Nest, a UK defined contribution pension scheme, has selected Amundi and BlackRock as private credit managers, to manage a global real estate and global infrastructure debt mandate, respectively.  

Commonfund seeks to diversify manager pool with new portal
Commonfund will launch an online 'diverse manager portal' designed specifically to receive due diligence materials from women and minority-led managers investing in equities, fixed income and credit, real estate and hedge funds

White Oak lands role in California's clean energy financing programme
The California Statewide Communities Development Authority (CSCDA) has named White Oak Global Advisors as the programme administrator for  commercial property-assessed clean energy (Pace) financing

Illinois pension replaces consultant Callan with Wilshire
Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) has appointed Wilshire Associates to serve as investment consultant and performance measurement services provider, effective from January 2020  

Ares appoints Atalaya founding partner to co-head alternative credit unit
He will serve as co-head of Ares' $4 billion alternative credit unit alongside Keith Ashton 

Kayne Anderson targets direct lending and liquid credit mix for new fund
Kayne Anderson is looking to launch a closed-ended fund focused on direct lending, liquid credit and energy and infrastructure equity investments

Investor requirements rather than performance is driving ESG push: Creditflux survey
Only 14% of respondents to Creditflux's global credit ESG survey said performance was the main reason they were adopting envoronmental, social and governance-themed strategies

UK pension pool to launch maiden private credit offering
Border to Coast Pensions Partnership is launching its first private credit offering in early Q4, Creditflux has learned

Arizona pension invests in shipping fund as it steps up private credit allocations
Arizona Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS) has approved commitments to Northern Shipping Fund IV, according to transaction documents seen by Creditflux.