HPS raises $1.5 billion SME credit fund in Europe
HPS Investment Partners has closed a $1.5 billion SME credit fund known as the European Asset Value Fund II

Credit Rendezvous: recovery begins, but is it U, V or even W?
Investing in credit is not as easy as ABC. The coronavirus crisis has crushed valuations and although most assets will eventually pull to par, no one is sure how the recovery will pan out

Global direct lending fundraising plummets in Q1
Global direct lending fundraising figures plummeted in the first quarter as coronavirus-related volatility kicked in. Managers raised just $9.4 billion raised across 11 funds compared to $18.6 billion across 15 in Q1 2019, according to Creditflux's fund database

Border to Coast bolsters 'alternatives' business with PM hire
The pension fund has hired a portfolio manager for alternative investments, including private credit, private equity and infrastructure  

Muzinich subsidiary launches €417 million Italian credit fund
Springrowth, a subsidiary of Muzinich, has held a €417 million final close on an Italian direct lending fund in which Muzinich partners with local banks for origination. The Milan-based firm is also fundraising for a Rescue Financing fund to support companies affected by the coronavirus crisis

Crescent closes second European direct lending fund at €1.6 billion
Crescent Capital has raised €1.6 billion for its second European direct lending fund, exceeding the original €1 billion target size, according to an announcement

Bardin Hill pulls in $300 million for first close of opportunistic credit fund
Bardin Hill has held a first close on an opportunistic credit fund at around $300 million, according to sources familiar with the matter

Sacramento pension earmarks $150 million for private credit in 2020
The pension fund expects to commit to two direct lending funds and one credit fund it describes as 'opportunistic'

European unitranche deal flow increased 11% last year, finds GCA
European direct lending unitranche deals completed in 2019 increased by 11%, according to GCA Altum's Q4 2019 MidCap Monitor, marking a record year for the industry 

Alcentra makes big hires from Fosun and Park Square as Delaney-Smith retires
Alcentra’s European direct lending team is going through an overhaul with the co-head of this business, Graeme Delaney-Smith, retiring from the firm and two well known names joining

Banco Sabadell joins forces with Amundi
Banco Sabadell and Amundi have announced a long-term strategic partnership, in a bid to boost fund business in Spain  

UK charities join forces on hunt for ESG managers
Three UK based charities are joining forces in the hunt for a manager to oversee a £32 million ($41.6 million) portfolio with a strong focus on environment, social and governance (ESG) criteria as well as impact investing  

Global mid market CLO league tables: Golub and Natixis lead by a distance
Golub Capital and Natixis dominated the mid market CLO space in 2019 in the manager and arranger league tables, respectively

Private debt tops the private markets agenda for insurers, finds Schroders
Insurers currently allocate the largest proportion of their private assets’ portfolio to private debt, followed by real estate, according to study published by asset manager Schroders  

Managers acquiesce on fees as small UK pensions seek private credit nest egg
Private credit fund managers are rejigging their fee structures in order to attract small UK pension schemes.

UK pension partnership launches maiden private credit offering at £581 million
Border to Coast Pensions Partnership (BCPP) is set to commit £581 million in private credit, as part of its maiden offering in this asset class  

Italian pension eyes private market investments with debt and equity mandate
Fondoposte has launched a request for proposals in which it outlines plans to invest in private debt and private equity  

Arizona pension to deploy up to $700 million a year in private credit
Arizona Public Safety Employee System is looking to deploy $600-700 million in private credit strategies per year in order to meet its target allocation, according to board documents seen by Creditflux.

In private credit, we look to stay in senior structures with control

BlueBay private debt spin-off hires in credit opps following rebrand
BlueBay’s former private debt team has rebranded to Arcmont Asset Management, following the completion of its spinoff from BlueBay. And the independent entity is wasting no time in expanding its business by hiring two senior officials to oversee a new opportunistic credit strategy

Be-Spoke one week away from pricing breakthrough SME CLO
Be-spoke Capital has moved a step closer to pricing its SME loan securitisation, with price talk emerging for the forthcoming Alhambra SME Funding 2019-1

Newly formed Italian asset manager launches direct lending fund
Equita Capital is seeking a first close of its second private debt fund by February 2020, Creditflux has learnt. The fund is understood to have an ESG focus