Morgan Stanley IM hires from Carlyle again as it makes direct lending "strategic priority"
The new hire rejoins former colleague Jeff Levin, who Morgan Stanley Investment Management added in February last year to establish a direct lending business as a "strategic priority"

'Speciality finance' gains momentum as US investors go deeper into private credit
Institutional investors are continuing to invest in niche, speciality finance strategies - including litigation financing and life sciences - following intense competition and overcrowding in US private credit 

US insurer Aflac purchases minority stake in direct lender Varagon
Varagon Capital Partners has sold a non-controlling, minority stake of the firm to Aflac Global Investments, the asset management division of US insurance company Aflac Incorporated

Private debt takes centre stage as Arizona looks to bolster credit allocation to 25%
Arizona State Retirement System remains bullish on credit with the $41.9 billion institution looking to bolster its entire credit allocations to almost a quarter of the fund - and private debt will take centre stage in the Arizona pension’s growth plans

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  

Maine pension boosts alternative credit bucket with $100 million to US direct lending fund
Maine Public Employees Retirement System has earmarked $100 million to a US direct lending fund

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  

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.

Garrison BDC needs to liquidate, argues shareholder Clear Harbor
In a letter delivered to the board on Thursday, Clear Harbor emphasised several concerns and demanded a new independent investment advisor with liquidation expertise 

Crestline targets $1.75 billion for 'all weather' fund but investor questions fund size
Crestline Investors is seeking $1.5 billion capital ($1.75 billion hard cap) for its next 'all weather' global special situations fund, Crestline Opportunity Fund IV, with the Fort Worth-based firm looking to hold a final close in October 2019. But one institutional investor has raised concerns about the size of Crestline's latest fundraise.

NEPC sees bias toward private markets despite lower return expectations
NEPC sees private markets in 2020 as a way for institutional investors to withstand volatility, said its director of asset allocation, Phillip Nelson, during a Q3 update yesterday

US pension backs Pimco to reach private credit target
Ventura County Employees’ Retirement Association (VCERA) is set to commit an additional $25 million to Pimco Private Income Fund

UK pension hires BNP Paribas AM for starring role in core-satellite private credit fund
UK pension fund Nest has appointed BNP Paribas Asset Management to run the core of a private credit fund, sources say, in an arrangement which sees Amundi and BlackRock manage certain satellite investments  

US pension allocates to Golub in bid to boost 'non-core fixed income' bucket
The State of New Mexico Investment Council has awarded $100 million to a senior debt fund managed by Golub Capital Partners, as part of a plan to bolster its non-core fixed income bucket

Russell and Mediobanca launch multi-asset fund with CLO allocation
Mediobanca Private Banking has joined forces with Russell Investments to set up a fund that has a 20% allocation to credit, sources say  

Portfolio Advisors wins $75 million for third mezzanine credit fund
Connecticut-based Portfolio Advisors has been backed by a US pension scheme and has plans to launch a senior debt initiative focused on first lien senior secured loans

Pimco's evergreen private debt fund attracts another US pension
Seattle City Employees’ Retirement System has become the latest manager to commit to Pimco's open-ended private credit fund 

Maryland pension allocates $25 million to evergreen private debt fund
Anne Arundel County Retirement and Pension System has allocated $25 million to an evergreen private credit fund managed by Pimco

Oaktree BDC appoints CLO specialist as CEO and CIO
Oaktree Speciality Lending Corporation has appointed its new chief executive officer and chief investment officer, following the resignation of the incumbent CEO and CIO Edgar Lee

Minnesota pension slates $100 million for private credit
The pension fund has so far allocated $2.4 billion to private credit across 12 managers and 25 funds

Crescent BDC buys Alcentra BDC in $141.9 million transaction
As part of the deal, the combined business development company will go public and charge lower management fees

BDC consolidation continues with Oak Hill and BC Partners-affiliate merger
The consolidation of US business development companies continues... this time, with the merger of OHA Investment Corporation and Portman Ridge Finance Corporation

Kayne Anderson targets direct lending and liquid credit mix for new fund
Kayne Anderson is looking to launch a closed-ended fund focused on direct lending, liquid credit and energy and infrastructure equity investments

GSO adds $10 billion to inflows with direct lending, structured credit and energy
Blackstone grew its credit assets under management to $139.3 billion, up 13% on a year ago, according to the firm's second quarter earnings release

UK pension pool to launch maiden private credit offering
Border to Coast Pensions Partnership is launching its first private credit offering in early Q4, Creditflux has learned