AI blockbuster deals surge as Middle East conflict test dealmaker confidence
Mergermarkets M&A Highlights 1Q26: Global M&A volume jumped 22% to the second highest start ever

17Capital raises USD 5.5bn for NAV lending to private funds
The alternative credit firm claims its 17Capital Strategic Lending Fund 6 is the largest NAV lending fund seen in the market to date

PAG raises USD 1.25bn for significant risk transfers
The Hong Kong-based alternative asset manager is expecting the SRT market to grow at a 30% to 40% rate annually over the next few years

Credit PM pair seek galaxy of opportunities with long/short fund manager launch
Two experienced portfolio managers have set up a new venture to take advantage of volatile markets

Credit Rendezvous: the upside of inflation
It is clear, inflation is not transitory and central banks are acting with several interest rate hikes likely in store for the US this year. That makes loans and CLO debt tranches attractive, but there could be opportunities beyond these floating rate assets

Middle east firm hires high profile loan official to build on control CLO equity business
Middle east asset manager Lakemore Partner is doubling down on CLOs with the control CLO equity investor hiring one of the biggest names in the loan and CLO management business

LP round up: pensions plan private credit pacing as strategic credit takes on "midfield" role
US pensions have allocated $1.4 billion across 22 credit funds including those managed by Angelo Gordon, Ares and GoldenTree, according to recent board documents seen by Creditflux. Meanwhile a pension fund draws parallels between strategic credit and Jordan Henderson

EnTrust aims to onboard $1 billion for maritime direct lending fund by June
EnTrust Global is targeting $1 billion for a maritime direct lending fund, Blue Ocean Onshore Fund, and anticipates a final close in June

Credit hits new wides as US and Europe ramp up coronavirus battle plans
An emergency weekend rate cut by the US Federal Reserve as well as population lockdowns in France and Spain underscore that measures of economic risk have moved to a more systemic level as world governments scramble to deal with the impact of the coronavirus outbreak

Credit breakdown as one-day volatility outstrips financial crisis
Credit default swap markets have surpassed the record one-day volatility of the global financial crisis, with indices surging to new wide prints as the spiralling impact of the coronavirus outbreak brings government lockdowns on travel while wreaking havoc on oil prices and supply chains

Credit traders' kickstand: this is not a drill
Freefall in financial markets has brought one of the credit market’s most volatile sessions on record, as coronavirus cases globally near 100,000 and the WHO has warned governments are not doing nearly enough. iTraxx Crossover one-day volatility is up with the 2008 global financial crisis and 2011 European sovereign crisis

No 2020 recession, cyclical bonds will outperform and CLOs won't crash, says BNP Paribas
There will not be a recession in 2020 and investors should stay long credit with the expectation that high yield cyclical and non-financial borrowers will outperform in a bullish market, BNP Paribas strategists have confidently predicted

US pensions funds allocate to Lone Star and Raven credit strategies
Two US-based pension schemes have invested in funds with exposure to credit, highlighting the appetite of institutional investors towards off-the-run asset classes.

Market favours retrospective over forward-looking approach to Ibor benchmark fallbacks, says Isda
New benchmark fallbacks for derivatives contracts that reference interbank offered rates are likely to be based on the “compounded setting in arrears rate” and the “historical mean/median approach to the spread adjustment”, the International Swaps and Derivatives Association has said

Los Angeles pension backs Lone Star fund
Los Angeles Fire and Police Pension System has approved a commitment of up to $40 million to Lone Star Fund XI, according to a monthly report  

Dai-ichi anchors global infrastructure debt fund with $176 million
Asset Management One Alternative Investments has joined together with Dai-ichi Life Insurance to launch a new global infrastructure debt fund

Texas pension fund earmarks $650 million to four private debt funds
Angelo Gordon, HIG Whitehorse and Värde have secured commitments from the Texas pension fund for their direct lending funds

EM manager takes assets across two funds to $1.4 billion after big inflows
Two funds managed by a New York-headquartered firm have reached a combined $1.4 billion after big inflows

Marathon EM fund picks up the pace with at least $58 million of inflows
Marathon Emerging Markets Bond Fund, a long-only investment fund focused on liquid assets in the global emering market, has raised at least $155 million, SEC filings show

Market's newest ESG bond fund targets Australian and New Zealand investors
Less than two years after launching an equity version, Dimensional has unveiled a sustainable bond fund for investors in Australia and New Zealand

Columbia unveils new Luxembourg-domiciled global credit strategy
Columbia Threadneedle has unveiled its newest credit fund, which will emulate the investment approach taken by its €2 billion predecessor fund

Infrastructure manager raises $6.5 billion in equity and debt mandates
Global infrastructure manager IFM Investors raised $6.5 billion in infrastructure equity and debt globally between 1 July 2016 and 30 September 2017