Alcentra holds $513 million close for CLO-focused fund
Alcentra has held a final close on its third structured credit opportunity fund with $513 million capital commitments - which has the ability to invest in US and European CLO equity, mezzanine tranches and warehouse capital 

Ex-Barclays EMEA leveraged finance head takes top role at Natixis
The former head of EMEA leveraged finance at Barclays has joined Natixis as head of investment banking for the Americas

US firms to continue CLO charge in Europe despite risk retention still applying
Europe is expected to welcome an influx of new CLO managers this year, despite the continent being subjected to CLO risk retention

CLO b-wic line-up: recent deals dominate secondary market
Recently priced deals have been put up for sale in the secondary market as 75.1% of today’s b-wic line-up consists of deals which have been priced (or altered) in the last 12 months

Blockchain experts eye CLOs in bid to overhaul archaic practices
The CLO industry, in many ways, can still be accused of living in the dark ages – but all that could be about to change with Creditflux learning that at least two firms are looking to modernise CLO infrastructure by implementing blockchain technology.

Private debt impact funds demonstrate their value in emerging markets
Private debt is becoming an important channel for impact investing with over a third of impact investing AUM tied to private debt, according to a new survey

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...

JP Morgan keeps up synthetic CDO momentum
Sources say that JP Morgan priced a $500 million synthetic CDO last month, underlining its position as one of the key deal arrangers in this market

CLO performance is faltering – a loans shock would help
Early CLO 2.0s benefited from wide loan spreads. Today, that arbitrage opportunity has closed and returns have gradually diminished – yet there are now similarities to the market in 2007

Issuers excited by busy first quarter
After 13 months of compulsory risk retention for US CLOs, it seems that the simplified regulatory regime is already encouraging a host of CLOs from returnees and new entrants to the market
 

Libor rise gives timely boost to US loan yields
Competition for US loans among CLOs, ETFs and mutual funds is keeping margins in check. However, the 60bp increase in Libor in Q1 means there’s still reason to pile into the loan market

Tracking down the credit industry’s original winners
All winning managers at the first Creditflux awards survived the crisis, under their own names – like BlackRock – or under new owners. But what happened to the people who collected the trophies?
 

SVP closes fourth global special situations fund at its $2.85 billion hard cap
Distressed and special situation specialist Strategic Value Partners has held a final close for its fourth special situations fund, hitting its hard cap with $2.85 billion capital commitments

Ares emerges as favourite to take over troubled direct lending fund
Following Oaktree’s wind-down request, the board of the Ranger Direct Lending Fund has chosen Ares as replacement manager - moves which could see the fund change its focus from peer-to-peer loan investments to asset-backed loans

Fulcrum launches new multi-strat fund with daily liquidity
Fulcrum Asset Management has launched TM Fulcrum Diversified Liquid Alternatives Fund, which will invest across real assets, alternative credit and diversifiers

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

US pension fund backs ICG's global mid market offerings
London-based Intermediate Capital Group has won further commitments from US pension funds for middle market credit investing

Oaktree raises at least $2.1 billion for second real estate debt fund
Los-Angeles Oaktree Capital Management has beaten its original $1.75 billion target size for Oaktree Real Estate Debt Fund II, US SEC filings reveal

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

Prytania lands in the US with MD hire to New York office
London's Prytania Asset Management has hired Fahd Basir as managing director to lead its New York office

79% of credit managers expect US high yield to widen, survey reveals
The International Association of Credit Portfolio Managers (IACPM) has revealed the results for its latest IACPM Credit Outlook Survey – and the outlook appears to be bleak

London-based fund manager announces majority equity purchase in Post CLO
An investor has announced that it has taken the majority equity position in Post CLO 2018-1 via one of its funds

US manager seeks pastures new as it opens CLO warehouse in Europe
A large US CLO manager is making a move into European CLOs and has hired Barclays to arrange its debut transaction on the continent

M&G launches 'first of kind' multi-sector impact debt fund
M&G Investments has today launched a multisector positive impact private debt fund, which it claims is the first of its kind by a mainstream manager