US loan trading: CLO managers on cloud nine after Ultimate Software allocations
CLO managers took down about 27% of Ultimate Software's loans in April, when the cloud operator issued its $2.3 billion first lien term loan due 2026, according to CLO-i

CLO managers process Fusion bankruptcy implications
12 CLO managers hold $185.2 million exposure to the debt of the cloud services company, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy 

New investments drive Canada Pension Plan’s credit returns to 8.7%
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB)’s credit portfolio has delivered good returns during the 2019 fiscal year, despite the market volatility, according to the institution’s annual financial report  

Loan trading round-up: CLO managers fall out of love with First Data
An analysis of loan trading among CLO managers in February shows that First Data is falling down the pecking order with managers selling $182 million of the company's loans

US CLO managers look to scale flat WALs in search of flexibility
The anticipation of a downturn in the credit cycle has made investors turn their attention toward document provisions that give CLO managers flexibility

Industry veteran joins B Riley's new credit unit to manage CDOs
B. Riley Capital Management has established a new credit platform 

Brookfield strikes deal to buy 62% stake in Oaktree
Brookfield Asset Management has agreed to buy a 62% stake in Oaktree Capital Management in a move which will lead to the creation of one of the largest asset managers in the business.

Affinion skipped interest payment impacts small number of CLOs
Only two CLO managers could be affected by the debt of Affinion Group, who skipped its scheduled 19 Feb interest payment ($22.2 million) to its first-lien 2022 term loan holders 

CLOs are not like CDOs, says Barclays, but warns of loan quality impact
CLOs are far removed from the kinds of structured products that contributed to the 2008/09 global financial crisis, Barclays has argued in a wide-ranging research piece this week

Carlyle performance dips in Q4, but credit teams ride global volatility
Credit fund performance dipped for the Carlyle Group in the fourth quarter, as market volatility and fund outflows put a dent in the industry’s much stronger performance of the previous three quarters

Cairn Capital hires portfolio manager for CLO investments
Cairn Capital has hired a portfolio manager with sell-side and ratings agency experience to be responsible for CLO tranche investments

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

Ex-Citi CDO trading chief joins Jefferies as head of European fixed income
Jefferies has appointed a former Citi European credit and pre-crisis CDO trading head to lead its European fixed income business

European loan issuance set to decline in 2019, says Moody's
The outlook for European leveraged loan issuance remains strong for next year, according to report by Moody’s, although levels will depend on M&A activity

Star names join Barclays as it pushes into CLOs

Xtract: CLOs may be further squeezed by one-week Libor Election
There are 30 loans which could, at the drop of a hat, switch to one-week Libor benchmarks, according to a report by Xtract Research

European CLO PM rumoured to be joining CIFC from large asset manager
CIFC Asset Management looks to have made a major breakthrough in its bid to establish a European credit business with the $17 billion asset manager rumoured to be hiring the head of European performing credit at a large global credit firm

Term structure is being developed for floating rate benchmark SOFR, says LSTA
The Secured Overnight Financing Rate, known as SOFR, is being developed into a term structure

Oak Hill appoints sole head of European credit as ex-partner takes on new role
One of Oak Hill Advisors’ most senior staffers has stepped into a senior advisory role

Alcentra hires former BlackRock US loan and CLO chief
Alcentra has announced the appointment of Leland Hart as managing director and head of US loans and high yield

Shrinking spread cushions prove hard for CLOs
 Falling loan spreads are placing ever tighter constraints on CLO managers’ choice of investments just as the loan supply itself is declining

Natixis looks to strengthen euro CLO platform as head of origination departs
The head of European CLOs and loan fund financing at Natixis is stepping away from the industry. But this has not deterred Natixis, which is implementing plans for growth in CLOs

Macquarie hire signals push into European credit fund financing
Macquarie has signalled a push into credit fund financing in Europe by hiring a senior official involved in this activity 

Leading fund: Lupus Alpha CLO Opportunity Notes I
Single-B CLO trades boost Lupus Alpha asset Management

Octagon plans its first 40 Act credit fund with 50% bucket for CLOs
Octagon Credit Investors is working on what could become one of the first closed-end fund listings by an alternative credit manager in recent years