BC Partners seeks $1 billion close for special opportunities fund
BC Partners Advisors is targeting a $1 billion close for its recently launched special opportunities fund, according to documents seen by Creditflux.  

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 

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

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

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

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  

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

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.

Crestline targets $1.75 billion for 'all weather' fund but investor questions fund size
Crestline Investors is seeking $1.5 billion capital ($1.75 billion hard cap) for its next 'all weather' global special situations fund, Crestline Opportunity Fund IV, with the Fort Worth-based firm looking to hold a final close in October 2019. But one institutional investor has raised concerns about the size of Crestline's latest fundraise.

Maine pension boosts alternative credit bucket with $50 million US special situations mandate
The $14.9 billion pension fund continues to be underweight its 5% target allocation to alternative credit 

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  

Texas pension awards $250 million to US lending fund
Texas County & District Retirement System has awarded $250 million to a special situations fund managed by Silver Point Capital. The commitment will sit in its direct lending bucket

Utah fund set to invest $45 million across Beach Point and Crestline funds
The Utah School & Institutional Trust Fund Office is set to make commitments to credit funds managed by Beach Point Capital Management and Crestline Investors

PennantPark raises $750 million for direct lending and opportunistic credit
PennantPark Investment Advisers has raised $750 million across four vehicles, according to an announcement

Rhode Island pension backs Clearlake credit fund
Rhode Island Employees Retirement Systems Pooled Trust is set to commit $30 million to Clearlake Opportunities Partners II, according to documents from an investment commission meeting seen by Creditflux  

Jefferies subsidiary and Stonyrock plan mid-market alternative manager stake acquisitions
The new joint venture will invest in private equity, credit, hedge funds, real estate, venture, and infrastructure firms

Maryland pension carves out private debt bucket
The Baltimore pension fund has also mandated a total of $25 million to one direct lending fund and one distressed debt fund 

Credit funds at a glance

A round-up of fundraising and people moves in credit

US pension backs Vista credit fund
Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) has approved a $50 million commitment to Vista Credit Partners Fund III, according to documents from the March board of trustees meeting  

Alaska pension commits $545 million to seven credit funds
Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation has earmarked $545 million to funds across the credit spectrum across Q2, according to 27 February board documentation

San Francisco pension deploys $125 million into private credit
San Francisco City and County Employees' Retirement System has bolstered its private debt bucket, making a $125 million commitment to a senior debt fund and opportunistic credit fund that builds on other private debt investments since last year

New York pension fund allocates $150 million to special situations fund
The new investment will sit within the pension fund’s opportunistic alternatives bucket