Mid market CLO league tables: Natixis and Golub reign supreme
June brought just three middle market CLOs pricings with two new issues and one refinancing that totalled $1.6 billion, bringing the year-to-date volume to $9.9 billion. Natixis is the leading arranger, having a hand in 38% of deals

Points up front: Funky fund manager is music to our ears

Apollo's MidCap returns to mid market CLOs with $509 million deal
MidCap Financial priced its first middle market CLO of the year yesterday, ending the manager’s 11 month hiatus

Direct lender hires head of credit as it closes in on European mid market CLO
BeSpoke Capital has made a big hire as part of a reorganisation of the direct lender’s business

New kids on the block dominate awards

DWS backs away from planned ESG-style European CLO
DWS has dropped plans to launch a European CLO, sources say. It is unclear why DWS, the asset management arm of Deutsche Bank, has turned its attention elsewhere, but one source says that the capital-intensive nature of putting together risk retention-compliant deals likely weighed on the firm. 

Barings shows way forward with BDC-sponsored CLO
The unusual move by Barings BDC to issue a US CLO suggests a new way for BDCs to lock in cheap financing and withstand volatility.

BMO makes rare CLO appearance with mid market deal
Greensledge has helped BMO Asset Management price its first middle market CLO since 2015

New investments drive Canada Pension Plan’s credit returns to 8.7%
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB)’s credit portfolio has delivered good returns during the 2019 fiscal year, despite the market volatility, according to the institution’s annual financial report  

Spire wins Creditflux Manager of the Year award
Spire Partners was the big winner at Creditflux's Manager Awards last night as the London-based manager scooped the award for the manager of the year. On top of this, the firm picked up awards for Best European CLO Manager and Best European CLO for Aurium CLO II

Prospect's $500 million CLO fund merges with Stira Alcentra global credit fund
Prospect Capital Management’s $500 million closed-end CLO fund has officially merged with a global credit fund managed by Alcentra and Stira

KKR and FS Investments' BDC platform markets new issue CLO
KKR and FS Investments’ business development company, FS KKR Capital Corp, is marketing a new issue CLO via Citi named FS KKR MM CLO 1

Continuous par build can provide a rainy-day fund for when downgrades to triple Cs pour in
If CLO managers are preparing for mass downgrades to triple C loans, then trading gains and thick OC cushions are the best defences

Carlyle and PSP join forces for mid market CLO
Middle Market Credit Fund - a joint venture between Canadian pension fund PSP Investments and Carlyle Group - priced its second middle market CLO

The Last Tranche: awards season is upon us [podcast]
A look at 2018 award offerings and finalist, plus some insight on direct lending and b-wics

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

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

Credit funds at a glance

A round-up of fundraising and people moves in credit

Finding the best managers, CLOs and direct lenders

GSO to add two North American offices in 2019
The credit manager anticipates the offices will help expand the firm’s origination efforts in North America

Churchill appoints head of underwriting
Churchill Asset Management has announced several promotions including head of underwriting and managing director, underwriting and portfolio management

Mid market CLO round-up: eyes (wide) open as mid-market CLOs re-awaken
AB returned to the middle market CLO space this week after a year out to price ABPCI V. It is the second middle market CLO of the year after Fortress Investment Group refinanced Fortress Credit Opportunities VII.