Loan market finds balance as spreads edge wider
New issue volumes were robust in July with relatively few loan refinancings getting done. Loan portfolio managers say the loan market is finally balanced, having been in favour of borrowers

Partners Group promotes Layton to co-CEO as Rubeli steps down
Partners Group has announced that David Layton, partner and head of private equity, will succeed Christoph Rubeli as the firm’s co-chief executive officer, effective 1 January 2019

Swedish pension fund's credit portfolio recovers with strong 2018 results
Andra AP-Fonden (AP2), the SEK 352.4 billion ($38.7 billion) state-owned pension fund, generated 5.6% absolute returns from non-domestic credit investments for the first half of 2018

Vanguard plans global credit bond fund launch for US investors
Vanguard’s $1.3 trillion fixed income group is looking towards a US-domiciled global credit bond fund in the fourth quarter this year, following the Ucits version it launched last year 

Blockchain drags credit into the future

Star names join Barclays as it pushes into CLOs

Direct lenders express concern over proliferation of ‘adjusted ebitda’ terms

Consultant calls on investors to quiz managers over ESG processes
The lack of consistent and reliable data seems to be a major challenge when embracing environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria across private equity, infrastructure and credit.

Investors gain upper hand in doc negotiations

Invesco to convert Canadian bond fund into global credit strategy
The new Invesco Active Multi-Sector Credit Fund will have a global multi-sector approach

Portfolio managers continue to be pessimistic on credit outlook, survey finds
A survey by the International Association of Credit Portfolio Managers states that 56% respondents believe average corporate default rates will increase over the next 12 months 

New rules encourage growth in blossoming risk sharing market
Significant risk transfer deals have generally been issued towards the end of the year – but the first quarter of 2018 has opened with a flurry of deals across primary and secondary markets

Standard Chartered plans refocused SRT return
One of the biggest issuers of significant risk transfer (SRT) deals is returning to the market

They said it: "If the loan has a covenant, there’s probably something wrong with it"
Fully covenanted loans are a rarity, which would bring one to think that these are prized possesions. A US loan manager disagrees

Aircraft lessors: gathering clouds lead to talk of turbulence
Aircraft leasing companies have been cruising over the past two years as passenger numbers grew, but rising interest rates and trade tariff concerns are making some bondholders nervous

Managers spot opportunity as leveraged loans soften
An abundance of US leveraged loan issuance helped soften secondary prices even though the overall market is highly bid. Meanwhile, investors’ preference for floating rate paper hit high yield

Neuberger's Dyal acquires minority stake in HPS
Dyal Partners, a division of Neuberger Berman, has acquired a minority equity stake in global credit manager HPS Investment Partners

Alcentra appoints Rajguru as global chief investment officer as Hatfield retires
Alcentra has appointed Vijay Rajguru as global chief investment officer effective 2 July 2018, a spokesperson for the company has confirmed to Creditflux, following Paul Hatfield's decision to retire from the firm at the end of the year

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 

Michigan pension fund looks to commit $80 million to debt funds
The $114 billion Michigan pension fund is looking to commit to two private debt funds managed by London-based Kreos Capital and New-York headquartered MidOcean Credit Partners

Texas pension fund ups commitment to CQS opportunities fund
The $29.7 million pension fund mandated $50 million to CQS Directional Opportunities Feeder Fund on 1 June

Higher leverage is on the horizon - but, for now, take in the MFN sunsets
It’s clear from our analysis of most favoured nation protections and sunsets that strong demand for loans is enabling borrowers to insist on advantageous terms even as they increase leverage

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

There are no perfect hedges for CLOs
As the CLO market gets hotter and hotter, investors are seeking hedges against the inevitable downturn. But although there are a wide range of options, there is no consensus on which is best
 

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