Banks battle back with their own direct lending fund launches
Through their own direct lending arms, large banks are leveraging their long-standing expertise and offering private debt to reclaim market share. Though small, these hybrid bank funds are certain to grow

Bridgepoint hires Benelux credit origination head and opens Amsterdam office
Bridgepoint has expanded its European presence by opening of an Amsterdam office

HSBC AM names CEO of new $53bn alternatives business
HSBC Asset Management has become the latest manager to bring together its ‘alternatives’ capabilities under one roof, with the launch of a new unit, HSBC Alternatives

HIG WhiteHorse adds Dach head to European direct lending team
HIG WhiteHorse has hired a former Barings official as principal and head of the Germany, Austria and Switzerland region 

AlbaCore swims to €1.5 billion first close on European private debt fund
AlbaCore Capital Group has held a first close on its third European direct lending fund, which has a €2 billion target

Mezz fund is meat and drink to Cerea as it holds €215 million first close
Cerea Partners is targeting companies in the food and beverage value chain as it launches a new mezz fund   

LP round up: big name managers win direct lending mandates amid $1.5 billion allocations
Apollo, Ares, Barings and CVC were among the beneficiaries of the direct lending rush in May 

Schroders unites private market divisions under Schroders Capital umbrella
Schroders has united its private market capabilities under a new umbrella branded Schroders Capital

Credit fundraising: Audax scores big in lighter month
Fundraising markedly dropped in May, but credit funds still amassed $12.8 billion and 10 credit funds reached final closes across a variety of different strategies

Novicap tech platform targets credit investors with fundraising drive
Novicap, a fintech company offering working capital optimisation solutions to SMEs and mid-market corporates, is looking to debt capital markets participants such as credit and structured credit funds, asset managers, pension companies and insurers as it seeks to raise third-party funding for its credit platform

Tech firm tempts credit investors with supply chain finance offer
Novicap, a fintech company focused on invoice financing, is looking to debt capital market participants — such as credit and structured credit funds, asset managers, pension companies and insurers — as it seeks to raise third-party funding for its credit platform

Managers offer solutions for underfunded pensions
Credit managers are tapping UK defined benefit pensions that are battling negative cashflows

Direct lending newcomers reveal doubts over losses
Large direct lenders are quick to point out that experience and restructuring experience counts, particularly as we enter a default phase. What’s surprising is that, when it comes to capital markets investors, those new to direct lending doubt their own ability to manage losses. 

Fund performance: CLO funds outperform as two hit over 100% 12-months return
CLO funds swatted away the competition in April on their way to dominating our top 10 credit hedge fund return table after an upbeat month

Credit funds at a glance (June 2021)
A round up of fundraising and people moves in credit

HarbourVest closes $833 million credit opportunities fund
HarbourVest Credit Opportunities Fund II will target a 13-16% net internal rate of return with a portfolio of around 70% credit and 30% equity

Carlyle hires head of credit investor relations in New York
Carlyle Group has hired an ex-Pretium official to lead investor relations for its credit platform

CPPIB reveals $600 million in credit investments across France, India and US
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board has revealed $600 million in credit allocations to three managers

Kartesia closes €1.5 billion credit opportunities fund
Kartesia has closed its fifth credit opportunities fund, Kartesia Credit Opportunities V, at €1.5 billion

Evli launches global private debt fund of funds
Evli Private Debt Fund I will invest in European and North American private debt funds 

PE firm HG targets up to $1 billion for credit fund to invest in its portfolio companies
Documents show HG's Titan 1 will allow investors to capture the returns that have historically gone to third-party credit investors 

Canadian pension Imco allocates $500 million to Ares
Investment Management Corporation of Ontario has revealed a $500 million allocation to a large credit manager that includes $400 million to a fund-of-one

Schroders and Oaktree launch global credit ucits fund
Schroders has partnered with Oaktree Capital Management to launch a global multi-strategy credit fund, Schroder GAIA Oaktree Credit fund, which will sit within Schroders' alternatives ucits platform

DWS and Tikehau target UK pensions with multi-strategy credit fund
The new fund will invest in CLOs, ABS, private debt, leveraged loans, infrastructure debt and real estate debt

BlackRock holds $940 million first close on global private debt fund designed for UK pensions
BlackRock has collected $940 million on a first close of its new private debt fund BlackRock Diversified Private Debt Fund