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

CIC collects €530 million for direct lending fund
CIC Private Debt has collected €530 million on its third senior debt fund, surpassing its original €450 million target size

Minnesota pension to invest $300 million in distressed and private credit funds
Minnesota State Board of Investments is set to invest $100 million in a mezzanine debt fund and $200 million in a distressed debt fund

Arizona pension to deploy up to $700 million a year in private credit
Arizona Public Safety Employee System is looking to deploy $600-700 million in private credit strategies per year in order to meet its target allocation, according to board documents seen by Creditflux.

Beechbrook appoints chariman for Irish SME fund
The appointment is in conjunction with Beechbrook's first investment in the Irish SME fund, which held a first close in July 

Online lender launches German credit fund with EIF backing
A senior debt fund managed by Creditshelf has recieved a cornerstone investment from the European Investment Fund - where all loans will be originated via its online lending platform

Eiffel seeks ESG loans as French lenders adopt LuxFlag label
Private debt managers are applying for the Luxembourg Finance Labelling Agency’s (LuxFlag) approval in ESG-centric strategies.

Fresh wave of investors to boost direct lenders
European direct lenders raised €18.3 billion across 13 funds in the first half of this year, according to the Creditflux direct lending database, but that could be just the tip of the iceberg.

Proventus Capital closes fourth private debt fund at €1.8 billion
Fund IV has completed nine investments and is around 20% deployed

Private credit growth helps Hamilton Lane 13% growth in AUM
Alternative manager Hamilton Lane has reached $481 billion in assets under management and advice as of September, with credit funds supporting the organisation’s growth  

Idinvest holds €200 million first close on Private Debt Fund V
Idinvest has held a €200 million first close on its fifth private debt fund, according to Creditflux sister publication Unquote. The manager is targeting a €1 billion final close

Newly formed Italian asset manager launches direct lending fund
Equita Capital is seeking a first close of its second private debt fund by February 2020, Creditflux has learnt. The fund is understood to have an ESG focus  

Crestline bags $360 million for inaugural European opportunities fund
Crestline Investors has held a final close on its inaugural European special situations fund, Crestline Opportunity Fund III Europe, at $360 million, surpassing its original $300 million target size

Italian private bank partners with Tikehau for private asset fund with ESG focus
Italian private bank Fideuram Investimenti has launched a private markets fund that gives investors access to private debt, among other asset classes  

UK pension hires BNP Paribas AM for starring role in core-satellite private credit fund
UK pension fund Nest has appointed BNP Paribas Asset Management to run the core of a private credit fund, sources say, in an arrangement which sees Amundi and BlackRock manage certain satellite investments  

DWS holds €350 million first close for inaugural direct lending fund
DWS has garnered €350 million on the first close of its inaugural European direct lending strategy, according to an announcement by the firm

Russell and Mediobanca launch multi-asset fund with CLO allocation
Mediobanca Private Banking has joined forces with Russell Investments to set up a fund that has a 20% allocation to credit, sources say  

Njord closes second European special situations fund at €271 million
Njord Partners has closed its second special situations fund, Njord Partners Special Situations Fund II, at €271 million

Partners Group brings global private debt strategy to Australian retail investors
Partners Group has bolstered its private debt offering to retail clients, collecting AUD550 million for a private debt offering which has been listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.

Veteran Ulmer targets array of private credit for new firm
Andrew Ulmer, who led the structured finance expansion at Brevan Howard, has resurfaced with his own asset management company, 1543 Capital, according to documents seen by Creditflux.

Allianz GI launches impact private debt and equity fund
The fund, which adds to its €6 billion assets under management of impact investments, will target a 5% to 7% internal rate of return 

Schelcher nears €300 million first close of European direct lending fund
The strategy - mainly focused on France - has recieved a €40 million commitment from the European Investment Fund

Beechbrook rolls up sleeves and begins fundraising
Beechbrook Capital is aiming to start fundraising for its fourth European sponsored debt fund in the fourth quarter. But the firm will take a slightly different approach to its previous funds.

Capital Four holds final close on nordic direct lending fund
The Copenhagen-based manager has held an €343 million final close for its latest private debt fund, according to market sources

RiverRock launches direct lending fund in partnership with European bank
RiverRock has launched a European direct lending fund in which it has signed an exclusive co-investment agreement with a bank