Ares to launch new private credit fund with USD 10bn-15bn equity target
The fund has the same equity target as its record-breaking predecessor, Ares Senior Direct Lending Fund III

Blackstone raises USD 10bn for oversubscribed opportunistic credit fund
The alternative asset management giant will use the fund’s flexible mandate to invest across industries, capital structures, and geographies

Defaults concentrate in smaller names, showing ‘size does matter’ – Houlihan Lokey
EXCLUSIVE: Credit quality concerns were generally contained to the smaller end of the smallest borrowers as interest coverage ratios improved for the broader market, new fourth quarter data shows

Tikehau sees fertile ground for latest credit secondaries fund amid market tumult
TPDS II closed on over USD 1bn, more than double size of inaugural vehicle; focus is on LP-led credit secondaries, despite market pivot to GP-leds

2026 has already seen over USD 7bn in direct lending foreclosures – Lincoln International
Private credit debt-to-equity swaps hit a record USD 24bn in 2025, and sponsors are continuing to abandon portfolio companies to direct lenders this year

Qatar SWF backs 5C direct lending growth in new partnership
The sovereign wealth fund is agreeing to help the alternative investment manager develop new investment products

Private credit investors chase higher risk-return—Campbell Lutyens
A new survey shows investors are seeking higher returning strategies amid expectations of lower rates, while also turning away from the dominant North American market

Monroe raises USD 6.1bn for senior direct lending
The firm held a final close for its Monroe Capital Private Credit Fund V and raised additional capital from separately managed accounts

TPG, Jackson Financial strike partnership focused on private credit
TPG will take a minority stake in Jackson and start by managing at least USD 12bn of the insurer’s assets

Individuals account for nearly a quarter of private credit investor base – Alternative Credit Council
The global private credit market grew to around USD 3.5tn in assets at the end of 2024, according to a new report from the Alternative Credit Council and Houlihan Lokey 

CLO issuance projected to hit new records in 2026 – KBRA
The ratings agency projects USD 220bn in issuance across US BSL CLOs and private credit CLOs as well as five to six European private credit CLOs next year

Blackstone starts new fundraising round for institutional, evergreen US direct lending fund
The alternative asset management giant is back to raise more capital for Blackstone Senior Direct Lending Fund after previously closing on USD 22bn in October 2024

Park Square strikes US direct lending alliance with Nomura
The new agreement will help Park Square source US senior direct lending deals for its new US Loan Partners fund

Neuberger goes smaller on flagship fund even as platform grows
The firm’s latest Private Debt Fund V clocked in around USD 1bn short of the predecessor fund as investor capital flows into other vehicles under the same strategy

Polus raises EUR 890m for European special situations fund
The latest fund exceeded its original EUR 750m target, a source familiar told Creditflux

Ares readies next flagship alternative credit, senior lending funds
The alternative credit manager also recorded its highest fundraising quarter, corralling USD 30bn from investors

OHA closes in on USD 6bn for large cap senior direct lending fund
The open-ended fund is targeting sponsor-backed corporate borrowers with an EBTIDA greater than USD 75m, the firm previously told institutional investors

CFA warns of conflicts of interest in continuation funds
The growing popularity of continuation funds has raised questions around manager processes, the CFA Institute said

Carlyle nabs head of direct lending origination from Golub
EXCLUSIVE: The firm also hired a second managing director focused on originations as it re-staffs its direct lending franchise

Park Square and Nomura plan private credit partnership
EXCLUSIVE: The two parties are negotiating a partnership in which Nomura’s US investment banking unit would help Park Square source unitranche deals in the US

Sponsors abandoning companies to private lenders at rapid rate---Lincoln International
The first half of 2025 saw private equity sponsors hand over companies to direct lenders at a volume that exceeded the past five years combined, the valuation firm’s data shows

Direct lending competition erases refinancing premium
Historically, new LBOs resulted in cheaper pricing, but spreads for refinancing and recapitalization deals have tightened as direct lenders face a lack of deployment opportunities

HIG WhiteHorse corrals USD 5.9bn for US direct lending
The latest fund will be used to originate senior-secured loans for both sponsored and non-sponsored corporate borrowers

Oak Hill Advisors raises USD 3.3bn for senior direct lending
The fund has yet to hold a final close but has already exceeded the fund’s initial target

Morgan Stanley loses head of direct lending and co-head of North America private credit
EXCLUSIVE: the head of direct lending had also served as co-head of North America Private Credit at Morgan Stanley Investment Management; bank assigns new head