Sound Point creates its first fund geared exclusively to direct lending
Sound Point, which has experience of investing in middle market loans through various funds, has launched its first dedicated speciality lending fund 

PineBridge launches first commingled direct lending fund
Two years after launching its private credit platform, PineBridge Investments closed its inaugural direct lending fund at $396 million, plus a $200 million leverage facility

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

US pension backs two private debt managers, but retreats from syndicated loans
San Antonio Fire & Police Pension Fund ended 2019 bullish on private debt but shying away from syndicated loans

BNP Paribas AM hits €345 million on first close of European SME debt fund
BNP Paribas Asset Management has attracted €345 million from 13 investors for its second European debt fund focused on small and medium-sized enterprises, marking the fund’s first close

Texas pension commits $250 million to large US direct lender
Texas County & District Retirement System closed out 2019 with a $250 million allocation to US direct lending

Värde launches $2.5 billion global credit fund
Värde Partners has raised $2.47 billion for a new global credit fund, according to an announcement today

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

SSG collects $2.7 billion for Asian special situations fund
SSG Capital Management has raised $2.7 billion for its fifth Asia Pacific-focused credit and special situations strategy, SSG Capital Partners V, surpassing the strategy's original $1.5 billion target size

Volatility wave brings index-linked CLO funds into play
Defensive positioning from loan managers has led to bifurcation in that market, but CLO fund managers are taking an attack-minded approach with ‘index-linked funds’.

Devon pension backs Brunel private debt portfolio
Devon pension fund’s committee has approved a £100 million ($131 million) commitment to Brunel private debt portfolio, according to documents seen by Creditflux

Pitching your structured credit fund: the three golden rules
Structured credit fund managers were given a lesson in how to market their strategies by a group of asset allocators at the Creditflux CLO Summit in New York.

CLOs wrestle back control of the European loan market
The share of European loans bought by CLOs is now larger than those acquired by loan managed accounts and hedge funds, according to a research paper by Barclays.

Hong Kong manager bolsters team ahead of Asian private credit fund launch
Sammasan Capital has appointed former GE Capital colleague to its team as partner, as the Hong Kong-based firm prepares to launch its first Asian private credit opportunities fund

Green credit programme reaches €253 million at first close
A green credit continuum programme, launched by Amundi and the European Investment Bank (EIB), held its first close at €253 million  

Goldman Sachs AM explores interval structure for credit fund
Goldman Sachs Asset Management has begun marketing for an interval fund primarily focused on credit investments

Muzinich targets €500 million after first close of senior secured fund
Muzinich has collected €104 million for a first close of its Muzinich European Senior Secured Fund

Texas pension awards €100 million to European direct lending
Texas County and District Retirement System has allocated €100 million to a European direct lending fund managed by Metric Capital Partners

US university backs private credit fund
The University of Michigan Regents has committed to a private credit fund that purchases small balance commercial and industrial loans

Californian pension commits $15 million to Angelo Gordon credit fund
San Mateo County Employees' Retirement Association (SamCERA) has approved a $15 million commitment to a fund managed by Angelo Gordon, according to documents seen by Creditflux  

Astor and Armory team up for US mid-market credit interval fund
Astor Investment Management has teamed up with Armory Capital to launch a middle-market credit interval fund, according to US regulatory filings

BlackRock targets €2.5 billion as it completes first close on European mid-market fund
BlackRock European Middle Market Private Debt Fund II, having collected €1.5 billion at first close, is expected to hold a final close in the first half of next year at around €2.5 billion, according to market sources 

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  

CSAM launches first commingled fund geared towards CLOs
Credit Suisse Asset Management has launched its inaugural CLO equity fund, according to market sources, collecting nearly $150 million on a first close for the strategy

West coast pension looks to step up direct lending allocations
The City of Fresno Retirement System will commit $140-160 million to private credit for the next two years, according to board documentation seen by Creditflux. This comes amid a pause in direct lending commitments for the pension fund, which has not committed any capital to this market in 2019