BlackRock seeks $1 billion for new multi-strat opportunities fund
The new trust will invest at least 80% of its assets in fixed income securities and up to 40% in special situations, SEC filings reveal 

AB targets financials with new global credit fund
Global investment manager AB (previously known as AllianceBernstein) has today announced the launch of a new global Ucits credit fund – AB Financial Credit Portfolio

EM manager takes assets across two funds to $1.4 billion after big inflows
Two funds managed by a New York-headquartered firm have reached a combined $1.4 billion after big inflows

Lombard Odier mandates US manager for emerging markets debt fund
Swiss private bank Lombard Odier has selected a Los Angeles-based manager for a new emerging markets debt fund 

Allianz GI brings in new CIO for emerging market debt
Allianz Global Investors has appointed Richard House as chief investment officer emerging market debt, Creditflux understands

Ashurst promotes five debt specialists to partner
Global law firm Ashurst has announced the promotion of 24 to partnership - including Kerion Ball, James Knight, Laura Ho, Tara Waters and Caroline Smart

Term structure is being developed for floating rate benchmark SOFR, says LSTA
The Secured Overnight Financing Rate, known as SOFR, is being developed into a term structure

Points up front: World Cup simulation shows models don’t work
England as fourth favourites? Pull the other one

HSBC asset management unit raises $800 million for global multi-manager loan fund
As a multi-manager fund,  the new vehicle aims to offer the benefits of fund-of-funds - diversification - but with a management fee comparable to a single manager 

Future returns: we've (not) got a case of the blues
Regular readers may notice a slight change to this, the 201st issue of Creditflux...

Investec AM hires emerging market debt PM from Standard Life
London-headquartered Investec Asset Management has hired emerging market debt specialist Imran Ahmad as portfolio manager within its multi-asset investment team

Ares targets €4.5 billion for fourth European direct lending fund
Los Angeles based Ares Capital Management has launched its fourth European direct lending fund, Ares Capital Europe IV, with a €4.5 billion target size, SEC filings show

Investcorp names new co-CEO
Alterative investment manager Investcorp has announced that Hazem Ben-Gacem will become co-chief executive officer, joining current co-CEO Rishi Kapoor

Pictet launches Asian corporate bond fund
Geneva-headquartered Pictet Asset Management has launched a Ucits-compliant Asian corporate bonds fund

Dutch managers team up to launch $250 million EM impact fund
NN Investment Partners  and FMO Investment Management have launched an emerging markets loan fund – which has just held a first close $250 million capital commitments, 25% over its original target

NNIP and China AMC explore strategic partnership
NN Investment Partners and China Asset Management Company (China AMC) are exploring the idea of a strategic partnership to launch ESG products

JP Morgan and BlackRock launch ESG fixed income indices
JP Morgan has teamed up with BlackRock to create new ESG global fixed income indicies - a "big step forward for emerging market investments" 

Credit Suisse and Carmignac team up to launch emerging markets fund
Credit Suisse has partnered with the French asset manager to launch a new multi-asset fund which has about two-thirds of its holdings in bonds

Dedication pays off in risk sharing
Fund managers are pitching dedicated CRT funds to institutional investors as market hits €75 billion in 2017 and US banks start to take notice. By Sayed Kadiri

NN launches emerging market debt fund
Dutch asset manager NN Investment Partners has launched a new fund that invests in debt instruments issued in hard currency (USD-denominated) by emerging market sovereign and corporate issuers

T. Rowe to reduce assets and change investment objective for bond mega-fund
T. Rowe Price is seeking to change the investment objective on its $2.65 billion International Bond fund – while also reallocating $850 million in assets away from the fund

Columbia unveils new Luxembourg-domiciled global credit strategy
Columbia Threadneedle has unveiled its newest credit fund, which will emulate the investment approach taken by its €2 billion predecessor fund

Victory Park partnership fund to focus on fintech in emerging markets
Chicago-based Victory Park Capital has launched a new fund together with the International Finance Corporation, with the new vehicle to invest in financial technology companies in emerging markets

Anchorage wins $75 million ticket for global credit fund
A US pension fund has approved an investment in the upcoming Anchorage credit fund

SSGA appoints global head of institutional group
State Street Global Advisors has appointed former APAC head Lochiel Crafter as head of its Global Institutional Group. James MacNevin will now take over Crafter's former role