Dealers gear up to settle Sears CDS and rule on Ziggo successor
The long wait to settle the final price of Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp credit default swaps will end today with a credit event auction, while investors could also learn whether there is successor to contracts referencing deregistered Ziggo Bond Finance

Credit spread improvement is calm before the storm, warn strategists
European and US credit markets have begun 2019 with a more buoyant tone than they ended 2018, but strategists warn that bearish factors still outweigh and suggest the overall direction of spreads this year is likely to be wider

Robeco looks to align macro fixed income with credit as it makes senior hire
Robeco has hired Jamie Stuttard as co-head of the global fixed income macro team and fixed income strategist  

Muzinich poaches Neuberger Berman MD for top fund distribution role
Muzinich has hired a global head of distribution, according to an announcement today, picking up the role previously held by Joshua Hughes, who left for CIFC Asset Management in May

Parker Drilling CDS auction deliverables trade in low 50s
There will be two deliverable obligations into an auction to settle credit default swaps referencing Parker Drilling, the Americas Credit Derivatives Determinations Committee has decided

Sears CDS battle heats up as DC challenged to change auction rules
A high profile battle over Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp credit default swaps has taken a new turn, with one market participant challenging the Americas Determinations Committee to change its rules to avert price manipulation by another market participant in the bankrupt retailer's credit event auction

GSO co-founder plans new credit business
GSO Capital Partners co-founder Tripp Smith is launching his own credit management firm, according to a report by Bloomberg

Sear-iously? Isda slams ex-CFTC commissioner over CDS "hyperbole"
The International Swaps and Derivatives Association has waded into a gathering furore over Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp credit default swaps

Sears CDS settlement extends to 2019 as external review teams line up
Holders of Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp credit default swaps will have to wait until at least 7 January to resolve the contracts, with an external review decision on deliverables into the defaulted borrower’s credit event auction slated for 21 December

Sears CDS external review panel named to solve Determinations Committee impasse
The North America Determinations Committee has selected an external review panel to decide whether two Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp debt obligations can be delivered into an auction to settle the US retailer’s credit default swaps, having failed to achieve a strong enough quorum among its own 15 members

Astaldi CDS auction sets 30.875 final price as physical settlement boosts recovery
An auction today to settle credit default swaps referencing Astaldi has determined the final price to be 30.875 cents on the euro, meaning a 69.125 cents pay-out per euro for protection buyers

Blackstone builds on multi-asset approach with fifth fund
The new vehicle will invest directly into Blackstone deals across its alternatives platform

US pension backs Summit credit fund
Ann Arbor City Employees' Retirement System, the $517.5 million US pension fund, has approved a $9 million investment with Summit Partners Credit Fund III, according to board documents seen by Creditflux.  

Ex-Citi CDO trading chief joins Jefferies as head of European fixed income
Jefferies has appointed a former Citi European credit and pre-crisis CDO trading head to lead its European fixed income business

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

Astaldi CDS holders face Thursday deadline on auction deliverables
Market participants with exposure to Astaldi have until 5pm London time tomorrow (8 November) to submit any other potential deliverable obligations into the auction to settle the company’s credit default swaps

Seven deliverables valid for Sears CDS auction, as seven others split DC panel
There will be seven obligations deliverable into an auction on 14 November to settle credit default swaps referencing Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp, the Americas Credit Derivatives Determinations Committee has decided. But members of the 15-strong DC were split over whether to include another seven potential deliverables that did not make the cut

Iowa pension plan seeks high yield manager
Iowa Public Employees Retirement System (IPERS), a $30 billion public pension fund, is searching for one or more firms to manage its high yield portfolio    

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

Astaldi credit event question posed as its distress weighs on iTraxx Crossover
Astaldi, a constituent of iTraxx Crossover, has been referred to ISDA-hosted Credit Determinations Committees as a possible bankruptcy credit event – less than two weeks after the index rolled into a new series

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

Shetland Islands pension looks to terminate bonds and introduce direct lending
A UK pension fund is looking to terminate its bond mandate and introduce a 12.5% direct lending and 12.5% alternative funds asset allocation, according to board documentation seen by Creditflux

Barclays hires another senior EM trader as Turkey continues to roil markets
Barclays has made an experienced hire to its EM credit trading team in London

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

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