ECB's crackdown on leveraged lending clears the way for direct lenders
Regulator's plans to limit debt to ebitda ratios in loan transactions could drive traffic out of the capital markets and towards lending funds

Highland shelves plans for format switch as interval funds gather pace
Instead of converting a mutual fund into an interval fund, Highland is looking to launch an interval fund - viewed as a investor-friendly alternative to BDCs - from scratch 

Direct lenders look to spread their wings and cross the Atlantic
Middle-market lending is becoming a global business amid talks of JVs

Beechbrook heads up north to open Manchester office
Direct lender Beechbrook Capital has opened up a new office in Manchester, according to an announcement this morning

Avenue to call it a day in European direct lending
Avenue Capital Management has pulled the plug on its European direct lending business

Nordic asset manager launches debut private credit fund
A Helsinki-based manager has partnered with MV Credit Partners for its debut direct lending fund

ICG hires Avenue Capital’s Lockhead for direct lending role
Intermediate Capital Group has announced that it has hired Avenue Capital’s Peter Lockhead for its direct lending business in Europe

Muzinich hires from BlackRock to bolster its direct lending team
Muzinich has made another hire to its offices in Frankfurt with the firm announcing that Markus Taubert will be joining from BlackRock in July

BlueBay, Brightwood and Permira win private debt mandates
BlueBay Asset Management, Brightwood Capital Advisors and Permira Debt Management have been tasked with overseeing a London pension fund’s direct lending portfolio

JP Morgan credit specialist set to join large credit manager in London
An experienced banker is leaving the leveraged finance desk at JP Morgan ahead of a move to the buy side. He is set to be involved with his new employer's upcoming direct lending fund

Tennessee pension fund turns its attention to non-sponsored direct lending
The $42 billion Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System is researching into direct lending opportunities

Chicago-based manager floats new $500 million loan fund
A mid-market specialist founded by two former American Capital officials is understood to be in the market with a new senior loan fund  

Twin Brook writes loan to support US-based lighting manufacturer
Angelo Gordon’s Twin Brook Capital Partners unit provided financing to support Harbour Group’s leveraged buyout of ILP, Creditflux understands

Aviva adds two to its infrastructure debt team in London
Aviva Investors has announced two hires to its infrastructure debt platform

Direct lender Beechbrook makes strong start in ramping UK fund
Regulatory filings show that Beechbrook Capital has made a strong start in ramping up its debut UK direct lending fund

Direct lending shows signs of growth in continental Europe, finds Deloitte
Deloitte has released its latest Alternative Lender Deal Tracker report in which it highlights that 267 direct lending deals took place over the course of 2016 – an increase of 2% on 2015’s volumes

Credit manager bucks the trend by shifting into private equity
A host of private equity firms are planning direct lending funds, but one direct lender is moving in the opposite direction