Credit Rendezvous: the outlook in 2020 across a dozen segments of the credit market
Welcome to the Credit Rendezvous, the first instalment of a regular feature published by Creditflux that tracks credit market dynamics in a dozen segments from investment grade, liquid loans, CLOs and CSOs all the way through to distressed debt. We view this as the meeting point for credit specialists across strategies to share their perspectives

Credit event protocol goes into force with 60 extra sign-ups
The International Swaps & Derivatives Association is going live today with a protocol aimed at stamping out narrowly tailored credit events from the CDS market, having signed up 1,358 entities

Portfolio Advisors hits first close as it targets $1.5 billion for secondaries fund
Private markets specialist Portfolio Advisors has completed a first close on its latest secondaries fund at the end of December 2019, having raised between $600m to $700m, a source told Creditflux  

Värde launches $2.5 billion global credit fund
Värde Partners has raised $2.47 billion for a new global credit fund, according to an announcement today

UK pension partnership launches maiden private credit offering at £581 million
Border to Coast Pensions Partnership (BCPP) is set to commit £581 million in private credit, as part of its maiden offering in this asset class  

45% of insurers look to increase private debt allocations, finds Natixis IM survey
Private debt allocations are expected to grow for 45% of insurers over the next three years, according to a recent survey by Natixis Investment Management. But regulation and internal restrictions are the biggest challenges to greater adoption of private markets allocation

Arizona pension to deploy up to $700 million a year in private credit
Arizona Public Safety Employee System is looking to deploy $600-700 million in private credit strategies per year in order to meet its target allocation, according to board documents seen by Creditflux.

Texas pension to invest up to $225 million in distressed debt
Investment consultant Cliffwater recommends an annual commitment of up to $225 million in distressed debt to Texas County & District Retirement System (TCDRS), according to documents seen by Creditflux

Carlyle switches to corp structure as credit portfolio grows 31%
Carlyle Group is set to become a full C corporation, moving away from its publicly traded partnership structure, amid global credit portfolio growing 31% year-on-year, according to the investment firm’s 2019 Q2 results  

Investor requirements rather than performance is driving ESG push: Creditflux survey
Only 14% of respondents to Creditflux's global credit ESG survey said performance was the main reason they were adopting envoronmental, social and governance-themed strategies

UK pension pool to launch maiden private credit offering
Border to Coast Pensions Partnership is launching its first private credit offering in early Q4, Creditflux has learned

Bain plans $3 billion distressed fund with US pension fund eyeing commitment
Pennsylvania Public School Employees Retirement System (PSERS) is set to invest $200 million to Bain Capital Distressed and Special Situations 2019 (DSS 19) fund, according to documents seen by Creditflux.  

Jefferies subsidiary and Stonyrock plan mid-market alternative manager stake acquisitions
The new joint venture will invest in private equity, credit, hedge funds, real estate, venture, and infrastructure firms

Isda tables plans to rid CDS market of narrowly tailored credit events
After lengthy deliberation, a working group of major firms is today set to publish proposals aimed at ridding the market of ‘narrowly tailored credit events’, whereby borrowers are persuaded to default on debt payments in order to trigger pay-outs for CDS holders

Virginia pension fund commits to Asian private credit
Virginia Retirement System (VRS) approved a $150 million commitment to the SSG Capital Partners V fund at a January board trustees meeting, a spokesperson has confirmed.  

New Zealand Superannuation Fund hires CIO
New Zealand Superannuation Fund (NZSF) has appointed Stephen Gilmore to serve as chief investment officer  

Los Angeles pension backs Lone Star fund
Los Angeles Fire and Police Pension System has approved a commitment of up to $40 million to Lone Star Fund XI, according to a monthly report  

Four private credit managers score as Arizona pension fund commits $250 million
The $9.78 billion pension fund has mandated nearly $250 million to four private credit managers, alongside additional commitments for co-investment opportunities 

Californian pension fund assigns $25 million to Monroe direct lending strategy
As part of its private credit pacing plan, the $5.4 billion pension fund will make a $75 million commitment to direct lending funds each year for the next three years

Texas pension fund earmarks $650 million to four private debt funds
Angelo Gordon, HIG Whitehorse and Värde have secured commitments from the Texas pension fund for their direct lending funds

Pacific Current acquires stake in Chicago-based private debt manager
Sydney-headquartered Pacific Current Group has acquired a 24.9% stake in Chicago-based Victory Park Capital

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 

Canadian asset manager acquires Asian private credit specialist Clearwater
In a bid to gain entry to the Asian private credit market, Canadian investment firm Fiera Capital Corporation has acquired Asian credit specialist Clearwater Capital Partners

Japanese internet and telco giant SoftBank completes Fortress acquisition
Japan’s SoftBank Group Corp has completed the previously announced acquisition of Fortress Investment Group for $3.3 billion in cash