Global issuance falls 22% QoQ and 12% YoY amid tech selloff and geopolitical insecurity – 1Q26 Loan Highlights
Loan issuance in the Americas, EMEA and Asia-Pacific (APAC) regions reached USD 1.37tn in 1Q26, according to Debtwire data; this volume was 22% down compared to the previous quarter and 12% below 1Q25

M&A volume leap 20% to USD 1.38tn in first quarter of 2026
Even the Iran conflict has not arrested momentum among larger deals. A mammoth USD 122bn capital raise from OpenAI closed on the last day of the quarter, according to Mergermarket data

AI blockbuster deals surge as Middle East conflict test dealmaker confidence
Mergermarkets M&A Highlights 1Q26: Global M&A volume jumped 22% to the second highest start ever

Majority of LPs expect to mix public and private credit despite liquidity challenges – BSP survey
Within the next five years, 59% of global institutional investors expect to take an integrated approach to public and private credit investments, new research from Benefit Street Partners shows 

Blackstone to launch new private multi-asset products for affluent individuals
The new products, expected to come in the following months, will offer exposure to multiple private market asset strategies at once

Citi announces debt capital markets co-heads, including a hire from BofA
The new co-heads will fill the open spot left by head of global debt capital markets Rich Zogheb, who is retiring after 40 years in the industry

Qatar SWF backs 5C direct lending growth in new partnership
The sovereign wealth fund is agreeing to help the alternative investment manager develop new investment products

Private credit investors chase higher risk-return—Campbell Lutyens
A new survey shows investors are seeking higher returning strategies amid expectations of lower rates, while also turning away from the dominant North American market

Morgan Stanley launches private market fund for European individual investors
The new product from Morgan Stanley Investment Management will invest across private equity, private credit, real assets and some public assets

CVC launches dedicated private credit secondaries platform
The alternative asset manager tapped Henri Lusa, a former managing director at Partners Group, to lead the new effort

Neuberger Berman raises USD 7.3bn for US direct lending
The firm held a final close for NB Private Debt V, which will be used to invest in senior secured, first-lien and unitranche direct loans

Polus raises EUR 890m for European special situations fund
The latest fund exceeded its original EUR 750m target, a source familiar told Creditflux

Ares readies next flagship alternative credit, senior lending funds
The alternative credit manager also recorded its highest fundraising quarter, corralling USD 30bn from investors

A slow, global rebalancing away from the US dollar and Treasuries – Amundi’s Grégoire Pesques
PODCAST: There is a major need for diversification away from the US dollar, says Grégoire Pesques, CIO, global fixed income at Europe’s largest asset manager Amundi, in the latest Credit Exchange podcast with Lisa Lee. In the meantime, the lack of obvious safe havens has seen gold a big winner

HSBC AM launches evergreen fund targeting trade, working capital assets
The new private credit strategy will invest in assets such as receivables and payables finance, trade loans and other instruments around the world

Hayfin hires two MDs for product and sales
The two managing directors will join the firm’s partner solutions group that focuses on creating new products and reaching new investors

Carlyle nabs head of direct lending origination from Golub
EXCLUSIVE: The firm also hired a second managing director focused on originations as it re-staffs its direct lending franchise

Evolving M&A is transforming the capital formation landscape – KKR
'Critical' link between M&A and credit is set to fuel growth in private markets

The health of the consumer is a canary in the coal mine – Arena’s Dan Zwirn
The CEO, CIO and co-founder of Arena Investors discusses stress in consumer spending, and prospective responses from policymakers, on the latest episode of Credit Exchange with Lisa Lee

Samsung Life becomes latest institution to take minority stake in Hayfin
Insurer Samsung Life joins Mubadala and AXA IM Prime as minority stakeholders in Hayfin

Corinthia Global Management hires Ares alum in New York
The global private credit manager has hired former Ares partner Craig Shirey to serve as a managing director

Park Square and Nomura plan private credit partnership
EXCLUSIVE: The two parties are negotiating a partnership in which Nomura’s US investment banking unit would help Park Square source unitranche deals in the US

HIG WhiteHorse corrals USD 5.9bn for US direct lending
The latest fund will be used to originate senior-secured loans for both sponsored and non-sponsored corporate borrowers

PGIM closes sophomore senior debt fund with USD 4.2bn
The commingled, private fund will be used to lend to middle-market companies across North America, Europe and Australia

Sixth Street to open Singapore office, hires head of APAC
The private credit manager has created the new role to better raise investor capital and expand the firm’s investment capabilities in the region