Credit fundraising: November marks turning point as fund launches spike
November was always set to be an important month as the world awaited the US election outcome and the results of covid-19 vaccine trials. This did nothing to slow down fund managers as 14 funds launched, up from only four funds launching in September and five in October

Wingspire taps Garrison managing director for head of underwriting
Wingspire Capital has hired an ex-Garrison Investment Group official as managing director and national head of underwriting

LP round up: Monroe and Angelo Gordon beat 25 for direct lending mandate, as private credit plans brew
US public pension funds have disclosed $1.2 billion in commitments to credit focused strategies

Monroe sets $1.5 billion target for fourth lower mid-market direct lending fund
The Chicago-headquartered manager is targeting $1.5 billion for Monroe Capital Private Credit Fund IV. The vehicle held a $276.2 million first close last month

Schroders creates multi-asset private credit fund for DB pensions
Schroder Adveq MPCF will invest in a range of private credit assets, including corporate direct lending, real estate debt and infrastructure debt

Calpers allocates $3.5 billion to Sixth Street and Goldman Sachs
Californian pension heavyweight Calpers is allocating a whopping $3.5 billion to private credit managers 

Värde closes $1.6 billion dislocation fund
Värde Dislocation Fund, has a flexible, global mandate to invest in mispriced, stressed and distressed credit, focusing on short- to medium-term credit opportunities

LP round up: $2.8 billion flows to credit as Apollo concedes fundraising may slow
Florida Retirement System Trust Fund made the largest commitments allocating $1.6 billion. Apollo meanwhile acknowledged a potential slowdown in fundraising as investors await results on an independent review into CEO Leon Black's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein

Credit fundraising: Dubai manager gets in on the act as direct lending takes off
Shuaa launches credit fund in the Gulf as Ares, Contingency, HPS and Perceptive are among those to close billion-plus funds

Apollo appoints head of credit valuations from sell-side
Apollo has appointed a head of credit valuations, as its previous head of credit valuations has transitioned internally to cover private equity valuations

European CLOs should obtain STS certification, urges ACC
The Alternative Credit Council has urged policymakers to allow European CLOs to obtain Simple, Transparent and Standardised (STS) certification in a bid to boost non-bank lending

Ares holds €6.97 billion first close on European direct lending fund
Ares Management Group has collected $12 billion in gross credit commitments over the third quarter of the year, according to the firm’s earnings presentation, including $8.2 billion for the first closing of its fifth European direct lending fund

Direct lending green shoots flourish despite fundraising plunge
Despite the headline figures, sources say European direct lending fundraising remains healthy and newcomers have a place to enter

LP round up: EIF backs four debt funds while Carlyle wins $1 billion
Institutional investors have allocated just over $4 billion to 27 credit managers in October board meetings

Alcentra hires Mulshine as head of US distribution
Alcentra has hired a new head of US distribution from Lazard

Credit Rendezvous: sometimes you have to dive deep to find value
Some parts of the credit market are fraught with danger, but that does not mean portfolio managers are avoiding them entirely, according to the Credit Rendezvous, Creditflux's 10-page quarterly report eaturing comments from 15 credit experts

Värde names deputy CEO and several promotions
The transitional appointments follow George Hicks, co-founder and co-CEO, saying in July last year he would move to an executive chair role by the end of 2021

Sovereign wealth funds empower direct lenders
Sovereign wealth funds are turning toward the booming private credit market, with three massive partnerships formed this year

Fund performance: A third of funds reach positive territory in 2020
August has been another successful month for the CLO category as seven of the top 10 funds invest primarily in CLOs

HPS closes mezzanine debt fund with $11 billion to deploy
New York-based manager HPS has held a final close on HPS Mezzanine Partners 2019

Barings inks partnership with Mubadala for European mid-market platform
Barings has teamed up with Abu Dhabi state fund Mubadala Investment Company to launch a new European middle market origination platform named Barings Mubadala Enterprise

US investors piled into structured credit and private lending in 2019, Gapstow finds
US institutional investors' allocations to 'alternative credit' increased 12% year-over-year in 2019, according to research by fund of funds manager Gapstow Capital Partners

LP round up: private credit drive gains momentum as Calpers backs Pimco
Private credit continues to be viewed as an attractive investment strategy for institutional investors, with four global allocators outlining new buckets, or increases to the asset class

Antares collects $3 billion for direct lending fund
Antares Capital wrapped up fundraising for an inaugural senior loan fund on Monday

Alcentra appoints DeSimone as CEO
Alcentra has appointed Johnathan DeSimone as chief executive officer following David Forbes-Nixon’s decision to step down and take an investment role at the firm