Ninepoint and Highmore team up for trade finance fund launch
Ninepoint Partners, a Canadian manager, has teamed up with Highmore Group Advisors to launch a trade finance fund

Direct lending challenges in 2019: competition, lack of quality assets and high transaction multiples
Results from Proskauer Rose's survey show these are not putting off 75% of respondents, who are fundraising for a debt fund

Alcentra BDC explores 'strategic alternative' plans to add value
Alcentra has appointed financial advisor Houlihan Lokey to evaluate 'strategic alternatives' for its business development company 

Experience has taught me to be sceptical of second lien loans
Alex Jackson takes our credit quiz

Direct lenders split over best way to manage loan restructuring
Direct lenders are divided on how best to set up internally when dealing with loans that require restructuring. Some managers argue that a deal should be restructured via the original deal team

CVC, Octagon and Spire vie for multiple Creditflux awards
Creditflux is pleased to unveil the finalists for the most prestigious awards dinner in the credit

Points Up Front: The best opportunities are way, way over there
Competition was a big theme at last month’s Creditflux European Direct Lending conference. The market has evolved to the point where new entrants are on the fundraising trail, which could lead to a compression in any illiquidity premium prevalent in direct lending loans

Bubble-watchers cite the popularity of leveraged lending as evidence against it
Growth in direct lending has been strong — but the sector is tiny compared to equities or bonds 

Credit funds at a glance

A round-up of fundraising and people moves in credit

Finding the best managers, CLOs and direct lenders

Debevoise & Plimpton hires three fund partners from Linklaters
Debevoise & Plimpton has strengthened its funds practice with the appointment of three partners in its New York office

BlackRock names global alternatives head amid senior leadership shake-up
BlackRock has reshuffled its leadership and made several senior changes across various parts of its business, according to an internal memo seen by Creditflux

Montana pension considers direct lending fund
Montana Board of Investments, the US pension fund, is planning to discuss on new private equity commitments on its board meeting on 2 April, according to the agenda documents seen by Creditflux.  

Californian pension reveals 2019 private credit plan
Ventura County Employees’ Retirement Association is considering committing up to $80 million to private credit funds, following a recommendation of its investment consultant NEPC  

Italian manager launches fund for private debt opportunities
DeA Capital Alternative Funds, an Italian asset manager, has launched an alternatives fund to target global private debt investments, along with investments in private equity and infrastructure  

US pension backs Vista credit fund
Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) has approved a $50 million commitment to Vista Credit Partners Fund III, according to documents from the March board of trustees meeting  

Fiera buys private credit and real estate specialist in $74 million deal
The transaction will add $3.1 billion of assets under management to Fiera Capital Corporation 

Medley BDC loses compliance with NYSE as two directors depart
The Medley marathon continues after two "independent" directors offered their resignations. The pair were named in a lawsuit last month with activist shareholders FrontFour 

US institution eyes credit as part of private equity expansion
University System of New Hampshire (USNH) looks to add credit commitments into its private equity portfolio, as part of the asset class new target allocation.

Alcentra BDC assigns new CEO
Business development company Alcentra Capital Corporation has named a new chief executive officer, saying "this is the right time for these transitions"

Alcentra's co-head of US direct lending switches focus to Europe - Debtwire report
Alcentra has appointed Peter Glaser as co-head of European direct lending, according to Creditflux’s sister publication Debtwire

Texas pension fund creates new credit bucket
The Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS) has approved a 3% opportunistic credit allocation, according to documents from an investment advisory committee meeting in March seen by Creditflux  

European regulators lower Solvency II capital charges for private debt
The European Commission has amended Solvency II rules to make it easier for insurance companies to invest in private debt and private equity

Massachusetts pension seeks multi-sector bond managers
Massachusetts Water Resource Authority Employees’ Retirement System has launched a request for proposals in which it opens the search for multi-sector and specialty lending bond managers