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 

Astaldi credit event question posed as its distress weighs on iTraxx Crossover
Astaldi, a constituent of iTraxx Crossover, has been referred to ISDA-hosted Credit Determinations Committees as a possible bankruptcy credit event – less than two weeks after the index rolled into a new series

Rolling the dice on Turkey and Italy
Gambling specialists with operations around the Mediterranean are facing political risks and currency falls – but there are opportunities to hit the jackpot if investors play their cards right

Distressed debt outperforms as Texas pension fund's credit strategies gain 11.2%
Texas County and District Retirement System (TCDRS), the $30 billion pension fund, generated 11.2% annualised returns from its credit portfolio for the year ending 30 June. Distressed debt was a major positive, but IG credit lost value

US pension fund's credit performance stumbles with 2.3% 12-month return
Maryland State and Retirement & Pension System, the $51.9 billion public pension fund, generated 2.31% returns from its credit portfolio for the fiscal year to June 30, down from 10% the year before

Oaktree raises new special situations fund while CIO warns of direct lending risk
Oaktree Capital Management has released its second quarter 2018 results in which the Los Angeles-based firm reported $2.4 billion of new capital commitments in the quarter

Aircraft lessors: gathering clouds lead to talk of turbulence
Aircraft leasing companies have been cruising over the past two years as passenger numbers grew, but rising interest rates and trade tariff concerns are making some bondholders nervous

Indonesian property developers: cracks reopen as liquidity dries up
Indonesian developers didn’t fully recover from the 2013 taper tantrum. And now, as development costs and interest payments eat into their capital, they are looking far from stable

65% of distressed managers plan new funds over the next year, survey finds
Distressed debt is proving to be a popular strategy for managers, with 65% intending to launch a distressed strategy in the next 12 months, according to a report by Creditflux’s sister publication Debtwire and law firm Ropes & Gray.     

Former Credit Suisse credit heads raise over $400 million for new fund
New York-based Arbour Lane Capital Management has raised just over $400 million for its second credit opportunities fund in less than a year, according to US SEC filings

San Francisco pension fund to deploy up to $4.5 billion in private debt
The City and County of San Francisco Employee’s Retirement System has revealed details of its new private debt pacing plan - which will see it deploy up to $4.5 billion and partner with up to 25 private debt managers over the next six years

Atalaya closes $900 million credit fund at its hard cap
Atalaya Capital Management has held a final close for its fourth income fund – Asset Income Fund IV (AIF IV) – at its $900 million hard cap, exceeding its $750 million target size 

Drug makers: desperately seeking pain relief
With Teva’s profitable Copaxone being undermined by cheaper alternatives, the company is in need of a pick-me-up. By Euan Hagger

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

Weeks after a $550 million close, Silver Point raises $511 million for distressed debt
Greenwich-based Silver Point Capital has raised more than $511 million for a new distressed debt fund, regulatory filings show

Southpaw weighs in at $3 billion through distressed debt strategy
Distressed debt specialist Southpaw Asset Management has crept over the $3 billion mark for fundraising for its credit opportunities strategy, with the help of $200 million raised over the past 12 months

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

Ironshield guards against future stress in Europe
The withdrawal of quantitative easing in Europe, coupled with rising interest rates, could lead to increased volatility and improved credit selection opportunities, especially among low-grade credits

US power generators: Falling prices spark bankruptcies
As renewables and gas undercut traditional power generators, bond holders are preparing for price shocks. By Euan Hagger

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

US manager looks to build concentrated portfolio with for $400 million fund
As Sound Point Capital prepares for the launch of its Strategic Capital Fund, the New York debt shop has revealed it has over $200 million soft circled out of a total targeted fundraise of $400 million

Seasoned credit fund manager rejoins Marathon in New York
A credit specialist has completed a circuit, returning to Marathon Asset Management after nearly 12 years away