Ranger direct lending fund set to wind-up as Ares withdraws candidacy
A new development in the Ranger Direct Lending Fund saga: Ares withdraws its proposal to assume managerial responsibilities for the fund

Swiss manager launches agriculture-focused impact debt fund
Zurich-based responsAbility Investments has launched its second open-ended private debt fund, which will invest in sustainable agriculture and development

Patrimonium holds first close for two European direct lending funds
Direct lender Patrimonium Asset Management has held a first close for two of its direct lending funds, Creditflux has learned.

RM launches “highly defensive alternative fund” with 7-8% total return target
London-headquartered alternative credit fund manager RM Capital has launched a “highly defensive alternative fund”, VT RM Alternative Income Fund, which it claims to be the first of its kind

IW launches first UK SME senior debt fund
London-headquartered IW Capital has launched its first  £4.5 million senior secured debt fund, which will invest in UK SMEs 

Unitranche deals set to grow with creation of uniformity
European direct lenders have been given a boost with the Loan Market Association establishing a new precedent unitranche intercreditor agreement to govern the relationship between credit funds and banks

Experienced CSAM holds off boutiques to win biggest prize
Credit Suisse Asset Management became a two-time winner of the Creditflux Manager of the Year award last month after picking up the 2018 trophy in front of a packed house at London’s Landmark Hotel on 9 May

Patrimonium set to launch two European direct lending funds
Direct lender Patrimonium Asset Management is launching two new direct lending funds – with both funds anticipated to hold first closes at around €150 million in the coming week, according to market sources

Direct lending growth challenges loan administrators, finds private credit survey
Nine out of 10 private credit managers face challenges when administering loans, according to an Alternative Credit Council report

HSBC asset management unit raises $800 million for global multi-manager loan fund
As a multi-manager fund,  the new vehicle aims to offer the benefits of fund-of-funds - diversification - but with a management fee comparable to a single manager 

SME lender ESO expands into Germany
London-based ESO Capital, a lender to European SMEs, has opened a new Frankfurt office – which it says signals its commitment to German-speaking countries

Idinvest holds €715 million final close for fourth direct lending fund
Paris-based Idinvest Partners has surpassed its initial €600 million target size, raising €715 million for its final close

Hermes partners with another three banks to deliver European direct lending fund
Hermes Investment Management has formed new lending partnerships with Danske Bank, DZ Bank and KBC Bank for its upcoming European-focused fund 

Manager targets €250 million for inaugural Italian direct lending offering
Milan-based Main Capital has plans to launch its inaugural Italian private debt fund, which will target €250 million capital commitments, according to Creditflux’s sister publication Unquote

Rothschild holds €655 million close for European mid-market loan fund
Rothschild Merchant Banking has closed its European mid-market direct lending fund, Five Arrows Direct Lending, with €655 million capital commitments

ESO acquires UK lower mid-market private equity firm
ESO Capital, a lender to European SMEs, yesterday announced it has acquired UK lower mid-market private equity fund Core Capital Partners

Muzinich edges nearer to final close for pan-European debt fund
Corporate debt specialist Muzinich & Co has held a third close for its pan-European private debt fund with €460 million in capital commitments

Hermes hires portfolio managers for asset-based lending and Euro ABS
London-headquartered Hermes Investment Management has strengthened its fixed income team and Stephane Michel and Andrew Lennox as portfolio managers, the firm announced today

Global law firm adds Luxembourg fund specialist as partner
Luxembourg fund specialist Augustin de Longeaux joins Simmons & Simmons as partner. He will initially focus on US clients with respect to capital raising and distribution in Europe

Carlyle and Oppenheimer opt for interval fund structure as part of JV
The new private credit fund will invest at least 80% across loans and structured credit (Including CLOs), opportunistic credit, direct lending and liquid credit, SEC filings reveal

UK funds brace themselves against value-for-money ruling
The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published its final set of fund governance rules that aim to strengthen the duty of authorised fund managers to their investors.

Madrid manager holds €50 million first close for sponsorless lending fund
Sponsorless investing proves popular with investors, as Trea holds a €50 million first close for its second direct lending fund - two months after launching 

Private debt impact funds demonstrate their value in emerging markets
Private debt is becoming an important channel for impact investing with over a third of impact investing AUM tied to private debt, according to a new survey

Ares emerges as favourite to take over troubled direct lending fund
Following Oaktree’s wind-down request, the board of the Ranger Direct Lending Fund has chosen Ares as replacement manager - moves which could see the fund change its focus from peer-to-peer loan investments to asset-backed loans

BNPP AM produces its own Novo loan fund to target French mid market firms
BNP Paribas Asset Management has launched a new business loan fund, BNP Paribas Novo 2018, backed by the French Insurance Federation and French public sector investment fund.