San Francisco pension assigns $75 million to evergreen private credit fund
A New York-based direct lender has won a $75 million mandate from San Francisco Employees' Retirement System, who are looking to deploy  $4.5 billion and partner with up to 25 private debt managers over the next six years

Muzinich poaches Neuberger Berman MD for top fund distribution role
Muzinich has hired a global head of distribution, according to an announcement today, picking up the role previously held by Joshua Hughes, who left for CIFC Asset Management in May

Minnesota pension slates $200 million to private credit after strong returns over Q3 2018
Minnesota State Board of Investments has awarded a $200 million commitment to two private credit managers

Head of European private debt Bone earns promotion at Partners
Partners Group’s head of private debt in Europe, Christopher Bone, has been promoted to partner as one of 10 senior-level promotions announced by the firm

Metropolitan raises $172 million for direct lending fund
Metropolitan Partners Group Management has closed its fifth direct lending fund with $172 million

Spanish bank prices €972 million SRT with triple As paying 31bp
Cajamar Caja Rural, based in southern Spain, has priced a €972.1 million significant risk transfer (SRT), according to market sources

EQT raises its second European direct lending fund
EQT has raised €2.3 billion for a European direct lending fund, exceeding its initial €1 billion target

Singapore fund to lend to financial institutions in emerging and developing markets
Singapore’s EFA Group is aiming to raise $100 million for a fund that will lend to banks and financial institutions in emerging and developing economies

Crescent lands in US direct lending for second time with $1.6 billion fund
Crescent Capital exceeded its $1 billion target size, hitting $1.6 billion for its second US direct lending fund

Pensions pile in as KKR sets $2 billion direct lending fund target
KKR Credit has raised at least $1.6 billion for its third US direct lending fund, according to US regulatory filings.

Varagon boosts healthcare expansion with New York hire
The middle market lender continues its efforts in the sector, following the opening of a new healthcare-focused Chicago office

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

Crestline holds $600 million final close for PE-focused financing fund
The new fund will provide financing to private equity funds post their investment period, allowing them to provide follow-on growth capital to portfolio companies or additional liquidity 

ICG hits €4 billion target for European private debt fund
Intermediate Capital Group has hit its €4 billion fundraising target for its seventh European private debt fund, according to the firm’s semi-annual results

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

First European SME CLO 2.0 edges closer after warehouse tweaks
Be-Spoke Capital’s European SME CLO is nearing the finishing line, with sources indicating NatWest Markets aims to price the deal, Alhambra SME Funding 2018-1, in early December. The development comes after the CLO exceeded the warehouse’s 12-month ramp-up period

MV Credit raises €803 million for credit fund following Natixis acquisition
MV Credit, formerly known as Mezzvest, has held a final close for its fourth private credit fund with €803 million capital commitments

BNP Paribas' fund of fund platform holds first close on European mid-market strategy
BNP Paribas Asset Management's fund of fund business is targeting €250 million for a strategy which will allocate to "top tier" European mid market debt managers 

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 

Alameda County approves $33 million investment in senior loan fund
Alameda County Employees’ Retirement Association has approved a $33 million commitment to a senior debt fund managed by Abry Partners

Monroe prices second new issue mid-market CLO of 2018
Monroe Capital Partners has priced its second new issue middle market CLO of the year, according to market sources

BDCs find variety of routes to higher leverage but remain cautious of two-times limit
Business development companies have been granted flexibility by US regulators, but there seems to be little consensus on the best way to take advantage

Full steam ahead: Italian railway workers' pension fund seeks private debt exposure
Eurofer, the €1 billion Italian pension fund, for railway workers, is seeking debt managers, with a focus on infrastructure, real estate or unlisted real estate companies.

39% of private debt investors are underweight, but they're looking for opportunities
485 Investors have come together to reveal their thoughts about allocation, in a survey conducted by London-based investment consultant bfinance

Harbert European Growth Fund flourishes with €215 million final close
London-based Harbert Management Corporation has held a final close for its second European Growth Capital Fund with €215 million in capital commitments