Sun Life IM hires Hong Kong-based head of Asia credit research
Sun Life Investment Management has appointed a former Wellington executive as its new head of Asia credit research

HSBC announces $550 million second close for diversified loan fund
HSBC Alternative Investments has announced the second close of its diversified loan fund, which will combine both loan investing and direct lending

Middle east direct lending fund registers 17% IRR after successful exits
Dubai-headquartered direct lender NBK Capital Partners successfully exits its $157 million private debt fund, NBK Capital Mezzanine Fund I, with returns of 17% gross IRR

Private credit body ACC scales up activities in Asia-Pacific with new committee
The Alternative Credit Council has announced plans to step up its activities in Asia-Pacific – and has formed a new APAC committee chaired by BlackRock and Adamas executives

Singapore-based asset manager appoints new CIO for multi-asset platform
Eastspring Investments, a subsiduary of insurer Prudential, has appointed a former BNP Paribas Investment Partners executive to a similar role

Brokerage Exotix appoints global head of fixed income
London-based Exotix Capital has appointed Dean Tyler as global head of fixed income

Up-and-coming fund manager Revolution makes big structured credit hire
Sydney’s Revolution Asset Management has made a big hire, signalling its intent in the global structured credit markets

Global consulting firm acquires Japanese multi-management platform
Global consulting firm Mercer, a subsidiary of Marsh & McLennan Companies, has acquired the Japanese hedge fund multi-manager BFC Asset Management

BNY Mellon launches new emerging market debt fund
The New York-based manager launched the fund – which will be available to investors across the UK, Europe and Asia Pacific – following what the firm describes as a “dramatic transformation” in emerging market debt 

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