Primary picks up pace and appetite for large transactions – Europe Loan Digest
Boluda, Warner Bros Discovery launch jumbo deals; strong technical supports opportunistic deals

Florida, Montana among systems pushing recent direct lending mandates
Florida SBA commits USD 550m to StepStone vehicles in 1Q26; Montana, San Francisco also disclose direct lending allocations

A&E and dividend recap activity populates primary, with new-money deals also pre-marketed – Europe Loan Digest
Smiths Detection, Schülke in pre-marketing; Hanab, TMF flex down pricing on recap deals; Caldic, Envalior, BME performance in focus

New York, Connecticut among systems pursuing alternative credit strategies
NYSCRF allocates USD 450m to net-lease, GP stakes funds; San Diego, San Mateo pensions commit to asset-based finance funds

Primary regains momentum amid high demand for paper – Europe Loan Digest
BASF Coatings doubles book on tight margin; Archroma widens final print after fraud disclosure; Cooper Consumer Health prices A&E with a dividend recap

Indiana, New York systems pursue diversification with large opportunistic credit commitments
INPRS commits USD 1.6bn, NYSTRS USD 450m to opportunistic/specialty funds; Ventura County pension plans USD 220m in private credit commitments

Washington, Louisiana systems approve large distressed debt commitments
WSIB approves USD 300m for Monarch's latest distressed debt fund; TRSL allots USD 150m to Centerbridge distressed, mezzanine debt funds

Virginia, Arkansas among systems expanding into alternative credit strategies
Recent Ares funds gain momentum with allocations from VRS, TCDRS; Arkansas Teachers plan multi-strategy credit SMAs with KKR, Brookfield

AI disruption fears and Middle East-driven macro volatility weigh on loan and bond issuance – 1Q26 LevFin Highlights
LevFin issuance across the US and European institutional loan and high-yield bond markets saw a strong start to the year before fears of artificial intelligence (AI) disruption and escalating macro volatility stemming from the US and Israel war with Iran weighed on market activity

Global issuance falls 22% QoQ and 12% YoY amid tech selloff and geopolitical insecurity – 1Q26 Loan Highlights
Loan issuance in the Americas, EMEA and Asia-Pacific (APAC) regions reached USD 1.37tn in 1Q26, according to Debtwire data; this volume was 22% down compared to the previous quarter and 12% below 1Q25

News in brief
Top stories on creditflux.com: spreads widen and outflows increase as war hits credit

Texas, Massachusetts systems reveal real estate debt, direct lending investments
Texas ERS, TCDRS disclose commitments worth USD 875m; MassPRIM invests in KKR's opportunistic real estate debt fund

Sealed Air widens pricing, while Grifols sails through as insulation from Middle East volatility drives bifurcation – Europe Loan Digest
Grifols closes oversubscribed, Sealed Air widens to 95 OID; Stark, House of HR, Emeria, Asda performance in focus

Michigan, New Mexico make large bets on asset-based credit strategies
Michigan SIB commits USD 800m to Apollo, LGT credit funds; New Mexico SIC allocates USD 400m for Ares, Pemberton funds

New York, Texas among systems making opportunistic, real estate credit allocations
NYSCRF allocates USD 550m to Apollo, Kennedy Lewis; TCDRS commits USD 150m to Blue Owl real estate fund

ABS primary braves geopolitical uncertainty as spreads start to feel pressure – European ABS Weekly Digest
The European ABS primary market mostly shunned geopolitical risk this week as seven deals priced, two of which were pre-placed

News in brief
Top stories on creditflux.com: firms are planning launches and issuance despite slump

CalPERS, CalSTRS disclose large commitments to Blackstone credit vehicles
CalPERS invests USD 5.75bn in 3Q25 across seven vehicles; CalSTRS, LACERA reveal allocations totalling USD 750m each

Montana, North Carolina systems aim large allocations for real estate debt
Montana commits USD 250m to Walton Street, GoldenTree funds; North Carolina plans USD 1.7bn in commitments, with USD 1bn for real estate debt

Maine, New Mexico systems eye large bets in senior direct lending
Maine PERS plans USD 375m for Blackstone funds; New Mexico SIC allocates USD 300m to Neuberger Berman; LADWP, Ventura County pensions also disclose recent moves

NYS system commits USD 500m as Illinois plans private credit RFP
NYSCRF allocates USD 500m to BlackRock, Ares and Pearl Diver; Boston, San Joaquin pensions also reveal recent commitments; Illinois police pension plans private credit search in June

Wisconsin, Texas systems increase commitments to opportunistic credit
Wisconsin Investment Board allocates USD 650m in 4Q25; Texas system commits USD 350m to LuminArx, Ares

New Jersey, Oklahoma systems double down on private credit SMAs
New Jersey DOI commits USD 600m to Golub Capital, while Oklahoma, NY systems increase allocations to SMAs; Vermont pension could commit USD 235m in 2026

South Carolina, Texas among systems disclosing recent credit allocations
Ares Pathfinder Fund III to launch in 1Q26 with USD 5bn target, while South Carolina system allocates USD 550m to two managers and Illinois and Montana systems commit USD 150m across various funds

Giant deals, fundraising beyond US direct lending dominate 2025
While unpredictable tariff policies introduced volatility into public credit markets, direct lenders stepped up in 2025