CLO market round-up: 20 - 24 Nov 2023
Thanksgiving or not, last week was a banner week for middle market CLO deals, with no fewer than five pricing

Global head of CLOs and loans switches firm to focus on private credit
Dan Robinson, Man Group's managing partner of capital asset solutions and global head of CLOs and loans has moved to a new asset manager

Private credit lending continues to surge, according to AIMA report
Lending grew by more than 60% between 2021 and 2022 according to a new report entitled "Financing the Economy," by the Alternative Credit Council, a private credit affiliate of the Alternative Investment Management Association.

Pensions pivot from vanilla private credit to focus on niche sectors
Retirement and pension funds continue to pump money into private credit, enticed by the prospect of higher returns. But as the market grows, more are turning their attention to niche sectors, such as ESG-oriented investments and specialised credit.

Private credit funds seek vehicles to bring in European retail investors
Private credit funds are looking to tap into retail investors in Europe after successfully accessing similar investors in the US

Credit hedge funds
Hedge fund performance tables

Credit funds at a glance
Fund performance; people hires; fundraising 

Nordic countries have much in common — including a growing appetite for private credit
Norway, Sweden and Denmark share many similarities. The ‘Nordic model’ includes high standards of living, free-market economies, liberal welfare states, a tendency for workers to unionise, and a relatively narrow gap between low and high earners.

ESG initiatives should avoid unfavourable reactions by pursuing substance over form
By any financial measure, the collaboration of trans activist Dylan Mulvaney with Bud Light hurt the brand. What was formerly America’s best-selling beer saw its market share collapse — from over 35% in May 2023 to around 9% in June — because of a boycott by US conservatives after a 60-second TikTok video aired of Mulvaney drinking it.

M&G launches first European private credit fund
M&G Investments is the latest firm looking to individual investors as an avenue for fundraising with the launch of a new ELTIF, dubbed the M&G Corporate Credit Opportunities Fund

BlackRock raises EUR 1.25bn for venture debt fund
BlackRock-owned Kreos Capital held the final close on the Kreos Capital VII fund with commitments of EUR 1.25 billion

Fidelity launches first European direct lending fund
Fidelity International has launched its first direct lending fund in Europe with a loan to Dutch dental services firm Clinias Dental Group 

Ares launches direct lending fund targeting retail investors in Europe and Asia
The new Ares European Strategic Income Fund is part of a growing string of credit options catered to wealthy individuals

Muzinich takes the high road for new private credit fund
Muzinich & Co has launched an AI-enhanced private credit fund called MLoan that focuses on parallel lending

BlackRock creates ESG-focused credit fund
BlackRock launches new strategy as interest in private credit and sustainable investments continues to grow

Credit impact fund surpasses $100 million target close
The fund targets companies that support social and environmental causes in Africa, Asia and the Americas

AEW poaches MD from BlackRock as the firm acquires Natixis' private debt business
The expanded European platform will include infrastructure debt and new investment products

Despite CLO gloom in Europe and greater take up of private credit in the US, markets on both sides of the Atlantic are similar
I’ve just returned from a trip to London, my first since taking on the mantle of editing Creditflux, and was struck as always by how stubbornly far apart the European and the US markets remain.

Primary market roars into life
The primary CLO market pickup that started in August continued strongly in September, both in Europe and the US. Although the overall direction was the same on both sides of the Atlantic, the type of activity was quite different.

Private equity firm raises USD 750 million for private credit
British-based private equity firm Apax Partners has raised USD 750m for the first generation of its Apax Credit Funds

Arrow Global names new senior-level hires
London-based asset manager announces new CIO of credit and direct lending

Helaba to launch EUR 500m infrastructure debt fund
Helaba Group is looking to launch its first comingled infrastructure debt fund, as the bank looks to expand its investment management capabilities in the sector

Blackstone loses head of private credit in Europe and APAC
Senior managing director will stay until the end of the year before stepping back for personal reasons

Rabobank launches new direct lending platform
Colesco Capital with a focus on sustainable direct lending

Opale selects three funds for tactical credit investment strategy
Digital platform for French investors launches first private debt investment strategy