News in brief
Blackstone plays offense amid volatility

Are unusual deals from Clearlake and JPMorgan signs of things to come?
Deals that would have gone to public markets switched to private credit

Crestline raises USD 3.5bn for sponsor and nonsponsor-backed direct lending
The firm held a final close for its Crestline Direct Lending Fund IV

Pemberton raises EUR 6.1bn for senior direct lending funds
The asset manager held a final close for Mid-Market Debt Fund IV and Senior Loan Fund II

Metric raises EUR 1bn for fifth flexible private capital fund
Under the strategy, the asset manager provides flexible financing that does not fit into traditional private debt or private equity

Clearlake launches Clearlake Credit to chase private and public credit investments
The new platform will integrate the newly acquired MV Credit and WhiteStar Asset Management

Private credit’s golden era never really ended – Blackstone’s Michael Zawadzki
On the Credit Exchange podcast, Lisa Lee speaks with the CIO of Blackstone Credit and Insurance about opportunities in volatile markets and the durability of private credit premiums

Apera secures EUR 2.9bn for European lower middle market lending
The fundraise for Apera Private Debt Fund III is double the size of its predecessor vehicle

BNP Paribas partners with Scottish Widows, bringing private credit to retirement channel
BNP Paribas Asset Management will manage a diversified private credit portfolio for Scottish Widows’ new UK retirement product

Private credit funds, partner banks present risks as global growth slows—IMF
Private credit funds and their partner banks can face losses as a slowing economy will challenge borrowers’ ability to repay loans

M&A rebound will come – Goldman Sachs’ Vivek Bantwal
Goldman Sachs' co-head of global private credit chats with Lisa Lee on the Credit Exchange podcast

TwentyFour Asset Management launches private asset-backed fund
It’s the first major move into private credit by the firm or its parent Vontobel Asset Management  

Paul Hastings recruits investment funds partner in London
Catherine Gokah joins the firm from Kirkland & Ellis

Siepe hires two from US Bank to boost CLO, private credit tools
The software and technology service provider for CLO and private credit managers is expanding its team

M&G expands direct lending origination team with new hire in the Netherlands
M&G Investments is expanding its direct lending team with the appointment of Gijs Boumans in a newly created role, based in Amsterdam

Generali Investments, Partners team up on private credit secondaries fund
Generali Investments’ debut private credit secondaries fund will invest globally and is available to professional investors

Tariffs will increase defaults – Blackstone
The alternative asset management giant also said the private credit market is providing financing that previously would not have been available in times of dislocation like this

European direct lender Arcmont launches debut NAV lending fund
EXCLUSIVE: The European direct lender has tapped an AIMCo alum to head the new global strategy

Crescent raises EUR 3bn for European direct lending
The company surpassed its original EUR 2bn fundraising target

Best time for private credit is during market volatility and dislocation – Arcmont’s Mattis Poetter
PODCAST: Over the past five years, private credit has grabbed market share during periods of dislocation, says Mattis Poetter, CIO of Arcmont 

Bank-asset manager partnerships reach European shores
EXCLUSIVE: the recent announcement from Arini and Lazard shows how new entrants into the direct lending market might copy the US model of leaning on bank partners

Partners Group launches dedicated private credit secondaries effort
EXCLUSIVE: The firm already has experience in private equity secondaries, infrastructure secondaries and real estate secondaries

Pemberton appoints head of European GP, NAV financing origination
Jürgen Breuer previously helped the manager build out its DACH direct lending effort

Scottish Widows plans private markets push through LTAF launch
EXCLUSIVE: the pension fund plans to invest in both private credit and private eqity with separate managers for each  

Dechert adds Paul Hastings partner to bolster private credit, CLO biz
Brian Whaley will bring his experience in private credit, securitization and structured products to the global finance group