Blockchain drags credit into the future

Star names join Barclays as it pushes into CLOs

Consultant calls on investors to quiz managers over ESG processes
The lack of consistent and reliable data seems to be a major challenge when embracing environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria across private equity, infrastructure and credit.

They said it: My friend (not a fan of the president) said she would erect a statue of Trump if there was any further Volcker rule rollback
A US lawyer tells us that President Donald Trump is gaining admirers in the credit industry.

Points up front: Cooperman takes advice from Kenny Rogers
Last month news emerged that Omega Advisors founder Leon Cooperman was converting his multi-billion dollar hedge fund into a family office.It wasn’t fatigue or performance issues driving the 75-year-old to retirement (Omega’s flagship fund is said to have delivered double-digit returns in 2017), but rather American country singer Kenny Rogers.  

Investors gain upper hand in doc negotiations

Lack of covenants could be a big theme in the next credit cycle
Citadel's Marina Lutova Meyers takes our credit quiz

Invesco to convert Canadian bond fund into global credit strategy
The new Invesco Active Multi-Sector Credit Fund will have a global multi-sector approach

Texas pension fund puts $150 million into credit
A $29.7 billion pension fund has approved commitments to two credit fund managers

BNP Paribas reorganises US credit business and appoints leveraged finance head
BNP Paribas has integrated its existing US primary and secondary credit units under a single new entity known as global credit markets Americas

Mill Hill poaches former Citi structured credit specialist
New York-headquartered Mill Hill Capital has appointed Nick Pepe as head of business development and investor relations

Portfolio managers continue to be pessimistic on credit outlook, survey finds
A survey by the International Association of Credit Portfolio Managers states that 56% respondents believe average corporate default rates will increase over the next 12 months 

German asset manager launches CLO-focused Ucits fund
UniInstitutional Structured Credit, managed by Frankfurt-headquartered Union Investment, will invest in a portfolio of securitisations, with a strong focus on CLOs  

Arctos Capital raises for cryptoasset credit fund
San Francisco-headquartered Arctos Capital is launching a cryptoasset credit fund – Arctos Capital Cryptoasset Credit Fund

Californian pension fund looks to increase exposure to opportunistic credit
Merced Country Employees Retirement Association (MCERA) may increase its exposure to opportunistic credit, according to documents seen by Creditflux

Houlihan Lokey expands global private funds group with Carlyle official
Global investment bank Houlihan Lokey has expanded its global private funds group with the appointment of Zade Zalatimo, former senior executive officer of Carlyle MENA

BlueMountain appoints four portfolio managers
New York-based BlueMountain Capital Management has hired four portfolio managers to bolster its global governments and agency mortgages strategy 

Mayer Brown appoints private credit specialist as partner in Chicago office
Global law firm Mayer Brown has appointed private credit specialist Beth Vogel as partner in the firm’s banking and finance practice

Investors debate merits of bond buckets as regulators revisit Volcker rule
CLOs with bond buckets could return in the US as federal agencies have signalled their willingness to roll back certain parts of the Volcker rule

Fixed income managers join rush for US leveraged loans
High yield fund managers Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss and Ryan Labs Asset Management are moving into floating rate products

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

Managers spot opportunity as leveraged loans soften
An abundance of US leveraged loan issuance helped soften secondary prices even though the overall market is highly bid. Meanwhile, investors’ preference for floating rate paper hit high yield

Neuberger's Dyal acquires minority stake in HPS
Dyal Partners, a division of Neuberger Berman, has acquired a minority equity stake in global credit manager HPS Investment Partners

Sound Point and American Beacon team up for credit interval fund
American Beacon Sound Point Enhanced Income Fund will invest in a variety of credit-related instruments - with at least 40% bank loans exposure

SEC aims to lower barriers to entry with new ETF proposals
The new proposals by the US regulator aim to facilitate greater competition and innovation in the $3.4 trillion ETF industry  by lowering barriers to entry