Ares pulls in at least €6 billion for European direct lending
Ares Management is well on track for raising its largest European direct lending fund

Pantheon collects $800 million for private credit strategy
The $50.7 billion manager has raised $800 million for a private debt fund, according to US regulatory filings

LP round up: private credit drive gains momentum as Calpers backs Pimco
Private credit continues to be viewed as an attractive investment strategy for institutional investors, with four global allocators outlining new buckets, or increases to the asset class

Tikehau to launch private debt secondaries and impact fund before year-end
Tikehau Capital is close to launching an inaugural private debt secondaries fund and a debut impact fund, with the Paris-headquartered firm outlining plans in its first half 2020 results to unveil both vehicles in the second half of the year

ICG opens Milan office
Intermediate Capital Group has announced the opening of an office in Milan

Hayfin appoints global business development head
Hayfin Capital Management has hired a new global head of business development from Avenue Capital in New York

Wriedt buys minority stake in direct lender Scio and joins as strategic advisor
Oliver Wriedt, the former chief executive officer at DFG Investment Advisers, has bought a minority stake in European credit asset manager Scio Capital

Equita's second Italian private debt fund reaches €100 million first close
Italy’s Equita Capital has reached halfway to its target size on its second Italian private debt fund, after holding a €100 million first close on the vehicle

Eurazeo accelerates timeline to buy remaining 20% of Idinvest shares
Eurazeo has struck an agreement to accelerate its purchase of middle market firm Idinvest Partners before the end of 2020

Dach mid-market lending is 'back to business', GCA Altium survey reveals
Mid-market lenders in the German-speaking region appear to be back to business, with around 90% of banks and debt funds open to evaluate new financing opportunities, according to a September survey by GCA Altium

Pemberton hires Credit Suisse head of Emea high yield syndicate
European direct lender Pemberton has hired a managing director and mid-market debt portfolio manager from Credit Suisse

Hayfin hires former Barings official to new head of fund finance role
 The new job reflects the growing number of financings Hayfin handles, sources say

Alcentra appoints DeSimone as CEO
Alcentra has appointed Johnathan DeSimone as chief executive officer following David Forbes-Nixon’s decision to step down and take an investment role at the firm

Amundi names head of €55 billion real and alternative asset unit following departure
Amundi has named a successor to lead its €55 billion real and alternative assets unit which includes real estate, private debt, private equity and infrastructure

Credit hedge funds (September 2020)
Monthly credit hedge fund tables

Ucits at a glance: Five funds lift YTD returns above 5%
Five funds have managed to pull their year to date figures above 5%; Loomis Sayles (7.50%), Algebris (5.82%), Pictet (5.53%), Amundi (5.36%) and Advent (5.11%)

Credit funds at a glance (September 2020)
A round-up of fundraising and people moves

Fund performance: Almost a third of credit funds reach positive YTD returns
July has been a successful month for many credit funds, despite the recovery peaking in May and June

CLO funds top rankings, but still have ground to make up
CLOs may have taken a hammering in March but, for the fourth consecutive month, funds that invest in these assets dominate our ranking of the top performing credit funds

Muzinich reaches €210 million first close for lower mid-market credit fund
Muzinich & Co has held a €210 million first close on a second lower middle market, pan-European private debt fund, Muzinich Pan-European II Private Debt Fund

Credit fundraising: distressed keeps in favour but CLO ETFs emerge
Five months into global lockdown and distressed debt funds are still proving popular, but several managers have found success pitching other types of credit strategies

Nordic boutique Evli hires as part of plan to expand in private debt
Evli Fund Management, a wholly owned subsidiary of Helskini-based bank Evli, is looking to add private debt to its offerings

GSO prepares inaugural non-traded BDC
GSO Capital Partners, the credit-focused business of the Blackstone Group, is preparing to launch an inaugural non-traded business development company named Blackstone Private Credit Fund

Capital Four holds first close on senior European direct lending fund
Capital Four has held a first close on its European direct lending fund, Private Debt III 

Investors should invest in private debt throughout 2020, says bfinance
Private debt has so far proved able to maintain stable valuations and pay coupons in 2020 so investors should keep faith through the year, according to investment consultant bfinance