Nomura grabs leverage finance specialist in senior appointment in Hong Kong
Nomura has appointed an experienced debt specialist as managing director and head of debt capital markets for Asia (excluding Japan), according to an internal memo seen by Creditflux

BNP Paribas AM launches emerging markets fixed income fund
BNP Paribas Asset Management has announced the launch of an emerging markets fixed income mutual fund – and says it plans to launch further mutual funds in the coming months

Credit markets ignore geopolitical exposures, suggests Guggenheim
Global credit spreads have spent 2017 tightening, but markets may be ignoring certain risks, according to Anne Walsh, chief investment officer for Guggenheim’s fixed income unit

Japanese insurance giant acquires minority stake in TCW from Carlyle
Japanese life insurer Nippon Life Insurance Company has completed its previously announced acquisition of a 24.75% minority stake in TCW from Carlyle Group

Debt managers spot opportunity as Australia’s banks face inquiry
Australia’s government announced a long-anticipated royal commission into the nation’s financial services sector on 30 November – and a credit market expert says the move could be good news for debt market participants

Church Pension looks to the heavens and gives its blessing to solar debt fund
New York-headquartered Social Investment Managers & Advisors (SIMA) has won a $17 million mandate from the Church Pension Fund for its Off-Grid Solar Debt Fund 

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

Blackstone taps Australia's mortgage loan market with new acquisition
New York-based Blackstone is tapping into Australia’s lucrative mortgage loan market by acquiring an 80% stake in direct lending company La Trobe Financial

Multi-affiliate fund management firm names senior hire in Melbourne
Australasia-focused Channel Capital, a multi-affiliate house of boutique funds management business, has named a senior hire to lead its newest Australian office

Northern Trust hires alternatives sales manager in London
Chicago-based Northern Trust has announced a new London-based hire, who will be tasked with spearheading sales across the alternatives fund sectors in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA)

State Street appoints managing director in newly created Asia-focused role
State Street Global Advisors, the asset management arm of State Street Corporation, has announced the appointment of Betty Ng as managing director

Man Group taps former Lazard professional for marketing role in Hong Kong
Investment management firm Man Group has appointed a new managing director within its institutional sales team in Hong Kong, the company announced on 13 December

Infrastructure manager raises $6.5 billion in equity and debt mandates
Global infrastructure manager IFM Investors raised $6.5 billion in infrastructure equity and debt globally between 1 July 2016 and 30 September 2017

Another fund manager opens Seoul office to target institutional investors
Australian institutional fund manager IFM Investors has announced the opening of a new office in Seoul, South Korea, as well as the appointment of a client relationship director

New manager to target Australia's secured private debt market
 A new Australian boutique investment manager is set to launch in early 2018, and will target AUD500 million for its first credit fund

Global asset manager becomes latest to receive China fund license
Aberdeen Standard Investment's Shanghai enterprise has obtained private securities fund management approval in China 

Adams Street opens Seoul office amid US managers' push into South Korea
Adams Street Partners has launched an office in South Korea and appointed a former Lazard Asset Management professional to run the operation

Abu Dhabi Investment Authority buys stake in KKR’s Indian credit business
The Abu Dhabi investment Authority has become a significant minority shareholder in KKR India Financial Services, an alternative credit business in India owned by US private equity firm KKR

Australian-European credit manager unveils plans for listed fund
Australian secured credit fixed income specialist Gryphon Capital Investments has announced plans to list a trust with an objective of paying a 5% per annum coupon paid on a monthly basis

Hong Kong firm announces first close of China-focused direct lending fund
Hong Kong-based investment firm Adamas Asset Management has announced the first closing of its Adamas Ping An Opportunities Fund, a vehicle mainly providing loans to companies in Greater China

Credit Suisse alumni in Australia raise $217 million for credit fund
Australian private investment firm Tanarra, formed less than a year ago by a group of Credit Suisse alumni, has raised AUD$285 million ($217 million) for a new credit fund

Investors pledge cash after turning to direct lender Prestige
Just like every magic trick has three parts, every fundraising has three stages: building a track record, marketing and, the most difficult, delivering strong returns. Prestige is clearly performing well as it gains three investor mandates

Mumbai manager announces first close of private debt fund
A subsidiary of Mumbai-based UTI Asset Management Company has progressed its plans to tap into the Indian credit market, announcing the first close of its structured debt fund

Right opportunity, wrong continent: Avenue sees value in Asian direct lending
Despite retreating from Europe’s direct lending market this year, Avenue Capital Group’s co-founder Marc Lasry believes opportunities still exist in mid-market lending – specifically in Asia.

US manager becomes latest to receive China private fund management license
US manager becomes the latest foreign firm to recieve an approval for the private fund management (PFM) license in China.