Credit funds at a glance (February 2021)
A round-up of fundraising and people moves

Fund performance: CLO funds keep up momentum as Napier Park finishes top
2020 ended with funds in our CLOs category taking the top few spots

Ucits at a glance: Advent ends calendar year on top
Ucits ended 2020 on the rise as 89% of funds achieved positive returns in December

Credit hedge funds (February 2021)
Monthly credit hedge fund tables

Search firm highlights lack of diversity across Euro credit
A report on diversity within the corporate credit industry has shed light on the imbalances that persist

Credit fundraising: January proves anything but dry for manager inflows
After a tough and unpredictable year, January may have been seen by many as an opportunity for a fresh start. But for seven managers it meant holding final closes on funds, while three undertook first closes and one a fund launch

Manager beats "more than 30" to partner with Zurich Invest for European direct lending
A UK-based fund manager has beaten off competition to land a partnership with Zurich Invest

Crescent bolsters Nordic direct lending presence with hire
Crescent Capital has appointed a former Nykredit official as a director in the firm’s European direct lending focused on Nordic transactions

Hayfin hires senior BofA figure as private credit portfolio manager
Hayfin Capital Management has hired a Bank of America official as a London-based portfolio manager in the firm’s private credit team

Asset management giant emerges as bidder for European CLO businesses
A large asset manager came close to adding European CLOs and direct lending to its product range with the firm emerging as a bidder on two asset management businesses

Blackstone raises $1.1 billion for mezz and $1.7 billion for direct lending
The New York-based manager had a strong final quarter of 2020, adding $13.1 billion in credit assets under management in the quarter

KKR brings in Park Square partner for European private credit team
KKR has appointed a London-based partner to its European credit team

SME lender LCM raises €3.4 billion for European credit fund
LCM Credit Opportunities 4 is nearing a €4 billion target and expects to hold a final close in April

Credit Rendezvous: heading for homes
Fund managers in structured credit, real assets and distressed are bullish on the prospects for residential housing in 2021. Elsewhere, niche royalty-based strategies are in favour and although a CLO repricing wave is expected, it may not be easy to execute resets. For more, read our 13-page quarterly report on credit. 

European Direct Lending survey nears closing time
There are just a few hours left to make your voice count in the Creditflux and Debtwire European Direct Lending survey

Direct lending survey latest: managers see most opportunities in southern Europe
The Creditflux and Debtwire European direct lending survey is open for just a few more days and so far the voting suggests market participants feel the best opportunities reside in southern Europe (26.9%)

Alcentra co-CIO for liquid credit set to leave this month
A high profile figure in the US CLO business is leaving Alcentra

UK pension seeks direct lending manager for £250 million commitment
Essex Pension Fund has issued a request for proposals to allocate up to £250 million to a direct lending fund

Oquendo exceeds €150 million hard cap for senior direct lending fund
Spanish direct lender Oquendo held a €172 million final close on its senior direct lending fund, Oquendo Senior Debt Fund, in December 

ICG hires managing director to direct lending business
Intermediate Capital Group has appointed a managing director within its European senior direct lending team

Anima holds first close on Italian direct lending fund with EIF backing to follow
The Anima Alternative 1 fund has a €150 million target and €200 million hard cap

Investec holds €165 million first close on inaugural direct lending fund
Investec has held a first close of its inaugural debt fund, Investec Private Debt Fund I, at €165million

Tikehau hires head of French private debt
Tikehau Capital has hired a head of France and chief operating officer within the firm’s €8.9 billion private debt team

Kartesia prioritises ESG with newly created role
Kartesia says it has appointed Coralie De Maesschack as head of ESG and corporate, social responsibilities (CSR) in a newly-created role

Sixth Streets hits €1 billion hard cap for second European direct lending fund
Sixth Street has closed its second European direct lending fund, Sixth Street Specialty Lending Europe II, at its €1 billion hard cap