Direct lenders pile into "turbocharged" market as fundraising skyrockets: report
Growth in the direct lending market in the 12 months to 31 December was “turbocharged,” growing robustly in the fourth quarter 2017 in particular due to a consistently growing Eurozone economy, according to Deloitte

Private equity firm hits target size with $170 million for its first credit fund
Technology-focused private equity firm Accel-KKR has raised $170 million – and hit the total offering amount – for its series 1 Credit Partners fund, which appears to be a direct lending strategy

FS Investment BDC's assets shrink for fifth year running
FS Investment Corporation, an FS Investments business development company (BDC), failed to grow its assets again in 2017 – but insists its recently announced partnership with KKR will allow it to grow stockholder value

Canadian asset manager acquires Asian private credit specialist Clearwater
In a bid to gain entry to the Asian private credit market, Canadian investment firm Fiera Capital Corporation has acquired Asian credit specialist Clearwater Capital Partners

Credit specialist poaches Goldman Sach's Eric Muller in New York
Credit specialist Oak Hill Advisors has hired New York-based Eric Muller from Goldman Sachs Group, according to a market source

Charlotte direct lender taps former BAML specialist for chief risk officer role
Capitala Group has hired Peter Sherman as chief risk officer, the North Carolina-based direct lender has announced

Minnesota pension fund looks to commit $535 million to 'private credit'
Minnesota State Board of Investments has recommended investments worth $535 million to private credit, according to board documentation seen by Creditflux

AUM drops but Oaktree dubs 2017 a "strong" year
Alternative investment specialist Oaktree Capital Management has reported a slight decrease in assets under management for the year of 2017 – but the Los Angeles-based firm’s chief executive described the year as a “strong” one for the company

Energy PE firm Orion closes second credit opps fund at $816 million
Orion Energy Partners, a private equity firm providing capital solutions to mid-market energy infrastructure businesses, has closed its second credit opportunity fund at $816 million

Aberdeen Standard Investments launches global private markets fund
Aberdeen Standard Investments has launched a £138 million Global Private Markets Fund (GPMF), which will invest in a diversified mix of private credit, private equity, real estate and infrastructure

Monroe's new CLO suggests increasing demand for mid market deals
The basis between middle market CLOs and CLOs backed by broadly syndicated loans is (slowly) shrinking

West coast manager closes $1.9 billion direct lending fund
Alternative investment manager Tennenbaum Capital Partners has held a final close of its eighth direct lending fund, TCP Direct Lending Fund VIII, with more than $1.9 billion of capital commitments

US mid-market earnings grow 12.8% in Q4 2017, up from 4.9% in Q3
Earnings in the US middle market grew by 12.8% in fourth quarter 2017, while overall revenue grew by 11.5% during September and October 2017, according to a Golub report

Crestline targets up to $500 million for new portfolio financing fund
Credit specialist Crestline Investors is launching a new fund to provide financing solutions to mature private equity funds, according to documents seen by Creditflux

The biggest credit stories in 2017
CLO ramp-up risk, new risk retention proposals and new CLO joint ventures were in the headlines last year. Here, Creditflux reveals the most read stories of 2017

Michigan pension fund commits $570 million to four credit fund managers
The State of Michigan Retirement Systems has revealed commitments of over $570 million to credit funds over Q3 2017, according to board documents

Texas pension fund allocates $100 million to direct lender's upcoming fund
Boston-based Summit Partners has received a $100 million commitment for its third credit fund – Summit Partners Credit Fund III – by a Texas pension fund

Private debt performance shines in institutional investing study
A quarter of institutional investors say private debt outperformed their expectations over 12 months to 28 August 2017

Private debt manager makes multi-million dollar sales for third credit opps fund
Private debt manager Park Square has made significant sales for its Capital Credit Opportunities III fund over the course of a year, regulatory filings indicate

Aviation investment specialists land at GAT to start leverage finance unit
A Florida-based aviation specialist has announced the launch of its Leveraged Finance Group (LFG), which will provide secured aircraft financing for lessors, investors and airlines, according a recent press release

Direct lender founder Isaly stepped down following sex harassment allegations: report
OrbiMed’s founder Samuel Isaly stepped down from his role at the healthcare-focused firm following sexual harassment claims against him, according to claims reported by Stat News

KKR and Audax poised to receive commitments from Arizona pension fund
Arizona’s Safety Personnel Retirement System may commit $175 million to credit strategies run ky KKR and Audax, according to board documents seen by Creditflux

Balance of power shifts away from direct lenders
Mid-sized corporations are getting their way at the expense of direct lenders at the negotiation table, recent research suggests.

KKR lists largest BDC on NYSE
A business development company (BDC) co-sponsored by asset manager KKR has gone public

Ares keeps up direct lending growth and plans new credit fund launch
Ares Management’s credit business just keeps growing, with the firm planning a new fund launch and a continued push into European direct lending, according to a recent results presentation