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

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

Managers see growth in distressed and direct lending, but structured credit splits opinion
The private credit industry remains on track to grow to $1 trillion assets under management by 2020, according to joint research published by the Alterative Credit Council and law firm Dechert with allocations to distressed and mid-market deals tipped to rise. But structured credit has divided US and European managers

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

Blackstone grows credit assets by 31% over year
The firm achieved strong fundraising in credit, taking credit-related assets under managment to $130.6 billion in the third quarter, a 31% increase year-on-year 

Distressed debt outperforms as Texas pension fund's credit strategies gain 11.2%
Texas County and District Retirement System (TCDRS), the $30 billion pension fund, generated 11.2% annualised returns from its credit portfolio for the year ending 30 June. Distressed debt was a major positive, but IG credit lost value

US pension fund's credit performance stumbles with 2.3% 12-month return
Maryland State and Retirement & Pension System, the $51.9 billion public pension fund, generated 2.31% returns from its credit portfolio for the fiscal year to June 30, down from 10% the year before

Oaktree raises new special situations fund while CIO warns of direct lending risk
Oaktree Capital Management has released its second quarter 2018 results in which the Los Angeles-based firm reported $2.4 billion of new capital commitments in the quarter

65% of distressed managers plan new funds over the next year, survey finds
Distressed debt is proving to be a popular strategy for managers, with 65% intending to launch a distressed strategy in the next 12 months, according to a report by Creditflux’s sister publication Debtwire and law firm Ropes & Gray.     

Former Credit Suisse credit heads raise over $400 million for new fund
New York-based Arbour Lane Capital Management has raised just over $400 million for its second credit opportunities fund in less than a year, according to US SEC filings

San Francisco pension fund to deploy up to $4.5 billion in private debt
The City and County of San Francisco Employee’s Retirement System has revealed details of its new private debt pacing plan - which will see it deploy up to $4.5 billion and partner with up to 25 private debt managers over the next six years

Atalaya closes $900 million credit fund at its hard cap
Atalaya Capital Management has held a final close for its fourth income fund – Asset Income Fund IV (AIF IV) – at its $900 million hard cap, exceeding its $750 million target size 

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

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

Weeks after a $550 million close, Silver Point raises $511 million for distressed debt
Greenwich-based Silver Point Capital has raised more than $511 million for a new distressed debt fund, regulatory filings show

Southpaw weighs in at $3 billion through distressed debt strategy
Distressed debt specialist Southpaw Asset Management has crept over the $3 billion mark for fundraising for its credit opportunities strategy, with the help of $200 million raised over the past 12 months

Minnesota pension fund looks to commit $535 million to 'private credit'
Minnesota State Board of Investments has recommended investments worth $535 million to private credit, according to board documentation seen by Creditflux

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

Energy PE firm Orion closes second credit opps fund at $816 million
Orion Energy Partners, a private equity firm providing capital solutions to mid-market energy infrastructure businesses, has closed its second credit opportunity fund at $816 million

Crestline targets up to $500 million for new portfolio financing fund
Credit specialist Crestline Investors is launching a new fund to provide financing solutions to mature private equity funds, according to documents seen by Creditflux

US manager looks to build concentrated portfolio with for $400 million fund
As Sound Point Capital prepares for the launch of its Strategic Capital Fund, the New York debt shop has revealed it has over $200 million soft circled out of a total targeted fundraise of $400 million

Seasoned credit fund manager rejoins Marathon in New York
A credit specialist has completed a circuit, returning to Marathon Asset Management after nearly 12 years away

Oak Hill promotes three to partner
Oak Hill Advisors has promoted three managing directors to the position of partner, according to market sources

HPS wraps up fundraising for specialty loan fund with $4.5 billion of LP capital
New York-based HPS Investment Partners has completed fundraising for its HPS Specialty Loan Fund 2016 - which raised over $4.5 billion of imited partner capital with $6.5 billion of purchasing power, exceeding the initial target of $5 billion

Phoenix credit funds still flying high with $28 million raised over 12 months
Phoenix Investment Adviser has been hard at work attracting new investors to its credit funds --boosting its credit assets by $28 million, regulatory filings suggest