European loan issuance set to decline in 2019, says Moody's
The outlook for European leveraged loan issuance remains strong for next year, according to report by Moody’s, although levels will depend on M&A activity

Finnish pension fund seeks portfolio administrator for illiquid investments
Finland's state pension fund is searching for a portfolio administrator to oversee its illiquid investments, which include private credit

Santander issues £1.1 billion SRT featuring UK project finance loans
Banco Santander has completed a £1.12 billion significant risk transfer through a transaction dubbed Fitzroy 2018-1 CLO

Calpers appoints CIO
California Public Employees Retirement System (Calpers), the $360 billion pension fund, has appointed Yu Ben Meng as chief investment officer.

Manager plays its cards right as top-performing hedge fund grows in size
A US credit hedge fund manager has grown the size of its credit vehicle amid a strong first half of the year

Houlihan Lokey launches US loan platform and signs up HPS
Global investment bank Houlihan Lokey has launched a new syndicated leveraged finance platform as part of its capital markets group in response to “significant client demand” 

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 

Investors eye alternative credit ahead of expected interest rate increase – report
Investments in alternative credit are set to rise among institutional investors over the next 12 months, according to an alternative credit report published by NN Investments Partners

THL Credit takes over as sole advisor to US loan fund
THL Credit Senior Loan Fund's Board of Trustees will end its current advisory agreement with New-York based Four Wood Capital Advisors effective 21 June.

Capital Four fund soft closes at €350 million
Copenhagen-based Capital Four Invest has recommended a soft close for its Luxembourg-domiciled Credit Opportunities Fund following its growth to €350 million

Credit specialist poaches Goldman Sach's Eric Muller in New York
Credit specialist Oak Hill Advisors has hired New York-based Eric Muller from Goldman Sachs Group, according to a market source

AUM drops but Oaktree dubs 2017 a "strong" year
Alternative investment specialist Oaktree Capital Management has reported a slight decrease in assets under management for the year of 2017 – but the Los Angeles-based firm’s chief executive described the year as a “strong” one for the company

Aberdeen Standard Investments launches global private markets fund
Aberdeen Standard Investments has launched a £138 million Global Private Markets Fund (GPMF), which will invest in a diversified mix of private credit, private equity, real estate and infrastructure

Ironshield guards against future stress in Europe
The withdrawal of quantitative easing in Europe, coupled with rising interest rates, could lead to increased volatility and improved credit selection opportunities, especially among low-grade credits

MidOcean nets $87.6 million in 12 months for credit opps fund
MidOcean Partners has raised more than $87 million in a year for its first Credit Opportunity IDF fund, regulatory filings indicate

Willis Towers Watson fund exchange hires new US head in New York
Willis Towers Watson’s Asset Management Exchange (AMX), an institutional asset management marketplace, has appointed a new US head

SSGA reports healthy income and AUM boost in Q4 2017
In its earnings release yesterday, Boston-headquartered State Street Global Advisors reported a rise in net income to $687 million for fourth quarter 2017, up from $648 a year earlier – a 19.1% increase

Oak Hill appoints sole head of European credit as ex-partner takes on new role
One of Oak Hill Advisors’ most senior staffers has stepped into a senior advisory role

Spanish boutique launches its first Ucits credit fund
Madrid-based Arcano Asset Management has launched its first Ucits credit fund, citing demand from Ucits investors for credit fund investment opportunities based on floating assets and with low interest rate risk

Alcentra hires former BlackRock US loan and CLO chief
Alcentra has announced the appointment of Leland Hart as managing director and head of US loans and high yield

Debt managers spot opportunity as Australia’s banks face inquiry
Australia’s government announced a long-anticipated royal commission into the nation’s financial services sector on 30 November – and a credit market expert says the move could be good news for debt market participants

Multi-affiliate fund management firm names senior hire in Melbourne
Australasia-focused Channel Capital, a multi-affiliate house of boutique funds management business, has named a senior hire to lead its newest Australian office

Rothschild plans to raise up to €500 million for its next credit fund
Fresh from launching Oberon III last week, a market source says Rothschild is planning its follow-up credit fund

CSAM closes unit it launched to take minority stakes in hedge fund managers
Credit Suisse Asset Management is unwinding Anteil Capital Partners, the private equity unit it set up to take minority stakes in hedge fund firms, according to a market source

CLO-savvy insurance company hires two for top credit investment roles
An insurance company, which has made a name for itself in supporting CLO managers with risk retention capital, has made a pair of big hires to its credit investment business