Be-Spoke one week away from pricing breakthrough SME CLO
Be-spoke Capital has moved a step closer to pricing its SME loan securitisation, with price talk emerging for the forthcoming Alhambra SME Funding 2019-1

Idinvest holds €200 million first close on Private Debt Fund V
Idinvest has held a €200 million first close on its fifth private debt fund, according to Creditflux sister publication Unquote. The manager is targeting a €1 billion final close

Newly formed Italian asset manager launches direct lending fund
Equita Capital is seeking a first close of its second private debt fund by February 2020, Creditflux has learnt. The fund is understood to have an ESG focus  

Crestline bags $360 million for inaugural European opportunities fund
Crestline Investors has held a final close on its inaugural European special situations fund, Crestline Opportunity Fund III Europe, at $360 million, surpassing its original $300 million target size

Man hires real estate loan specialist from JP Morgan
Man Group has hired an investment director to its European private debt team

Italian private bank partners with Tikehau for private asset fund with ESG focus
Italian private bank Fideuram Investimenti has launched a private markets fund that gives investors access to private debt, among other asset classes  

Pemberton adds head of investor relations in London
The appointment comes at a time where the firm is looking to diversify its product offerings

Kartesia opens Munich office for new hire Mirante
The new office is Kartesia’s seventh in Europe and second in Germany

Public private sector partnership launches impact debt fund
Warrington Borough Council and Altana Wealth have joined forces to launch a private debt fund that invests in social impact investments in the UK  

Beechbrook adds ex-Lloyds official to lead deal origination in midlands
UK-based direct lender Beechbrook Capital has added a former Lloyds Banking Group official to lead deal origination in the Midlands

UK pension hires BNP Paribas AM for starring role in core-satellite private credit fund
UK pension fund Nest has appointed BNP Paribas Asset Management to run the core of a private credit fund, sources say, in an arrangement which sees Amundi and BlackRock manage certain satellite investments  

Cordet confirms senior direct lending appointment in London
Cordet Capital Partners has appointed Rothschild’s former co-head of direct lending as its chief credit officer, following the departure of current CCO Björn Börjesson

DWS holds €350 million first close for inaugural direct lending fund
DWS has garnered €350 million on the first close of its inaugural European direct lending strategy, according to an announcement by the firm

Boston pension looks to allocate $60 million to private debt
The Boston Retirement System has launched a request for proposals in which it seeks a manager to oversee a $60 million private debt portfolio

Direct lending across the Atlantic: Creditflux unveils two direct lending reports
Creditflux is pleased to unveil two direct lending reports with the third edition of European Direct Lending Perspectives now available, along with the inaugural US Private Credit Perspectives report.

Russell and Mediobanca launch multi-asset fund with CLO allocation
Mediobanca Private Banking has joined forces with Russell Investments to set up a fund that has a 20% allocation to credit, sources say  

NNIP's private debt head moves to private equity job
The team leader for direct lending, loan portfolio financing and non-performing loan securitisations at NN Investment Partners has moved to a senior private equity job at AnaCap Financial Partners

Management fee compression brings US direct lenders in line with Europe
US direct lenders are cutting management and performance fees in an attempt to win mandates from international investors and bring fees in line with European direct lenders, according to research from Bfinance

Njord closes second European special situations fund at €271 million
Njord Partners has closed its second special situations fund, Njord Partners Special Situations Fund II, at €271 million

Partners Group brings global private debt strategy to Australian retail investors
Partners Group has bolstered its private debt offering to retail clients, collecting AUD550 million for a private debt offering which has been listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.

KKR bolsters global impact team
Investment firm KKR has appointed two senior professionals within its global impact team, as it looks to strengthen its geographic reach and local impact  

Veteran Ulmer targets array of private credit for new firm
Andrew Ulmer, who led the structured finance expansion at Brevan Howard, has resurfaced with his own asset management company, 1543 Capital, according to documents seen by Creditflux.

Fund performance
A round-up of fund performance

Ucits at a glance
A round-up of ucits fund performance

Credit funds at a glance
A round-up of fundraising and people moves in credit